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Sanborn, 



J. J^. Jewett, JA. p. 



HISTORY 



B ARNSTE AD, 



FIRST SETTLEMEISTT 



By JEREMIAH P. JEWETT, M. D. 



Since his Decease Revised, Enlarged and Published by 

ROBERT B . C A V E R L Y . 

I 

OF THE MIDDLESEX BAR. 



LOWELL, MASS. : 
HARDEN & ROWELL, PRINTERS, 

1872. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by 

Robert B. Caverly, 
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Wasliington, 



TO T H !•; 



HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER, 

PRESIDENT OF THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC 
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, 

V'ENERABLE IN FAITH AND GOOD WORKS, 

^ h i 8 ll? 1 u ni e 

IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED. 

R. B. C. 



B A R N S T E A D 



AND THE 



ANNALS OF ITS INHABITANTS. 



"It is wise for us to recur to the history of our ancestors. Those, who 
do not look upon themselves as a link connecting the past with tlie future, 
<lo not i>prform tlu-ir duty to the world.'' Danikl Wkbstkr. 



PEEFACE. 



I undertook the revision and publication of tliis History 
under many discouragements. Dr. Jewett liad in liis leisure 
collected most of its materials, and had hastily arranged them ; 
but early in 1870 disease came upon him, of which he soon 
afterwards died, leaving the manuscript in a mixed condition ; 
yet he had anxiously desired me to obtain the means, revise 
and publish it. 

The town of Barnstead, Ijeing involved in a w'ar-debt, 
refused to aid its publication, and thereby the whole burden of 
the outlay, as well as the work itself, was thrown upon its 
editor, living at a distance and encumbered with other cares. 

Yet many thanks are due to a citizen of the town, Dr. John 
Wheeler, who, in sight of the embarrassment, generously vol- 
unteered, and has given me much service and good advice in 
obtaining the means of covering its cash expenses, and in col- 
lecting and furnishing a large amount of materials which have 
been used in the work. 

Thanks, also, to Mary , by whose kind hand the 

brief record of a hundred grave-yards has been copied, com- 
municated, and included in these pages. Grateful acknowledg- 
ments are also due to many others who have favored us,, and 
whose names will be found in the appendix. 

Ai^ to my own labor, for which no pay is had, performed 
mostly late at night, outside the business of a busy profession, 
" I give and bequeath " it to the generations as yet unborn. 

Many things here recorded shall be novel to them ; shall 
be sought for, and shall be carried down to the coming ages as 
mementos of the past, and as gathered from the graves as well 
as from the fire-sides of the fathers, at the dawn, and in the 
midst of a new world. 

R. B. C. 

Centralville, Loicell, Mass., August, 1872. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



The New 'Wouli), 9 

New England, its First Adventurers, 10 

King Massasoit and Samoset, 11 

Tisquantuni, alias Squanto, 12 

New Hampshire and its Land Titles, 13 

Indian Tribes. 19 

Passaconaway and Eliot, 23 

Wonalancet. — Jlajor 'STaldron, 25 

War of 1722, 27 

Indian Pastimes, 30 

Indian Traces and Remains, 32 

Origin and Habits of the Red-man, 34 

The 5Iassacluisetts Colony, 36 

Court Tiuals and Decisions, 37 

Curious Court Records, 38 

Custom of wearing long hair (barbarism), 41 

Money Coined in Massachusetts, first, 41 

Quakers and their Persecutions, 42 

Witch-craft, 43 

The Wars, 45 

Barnstead, its First Grantees, 49-72 

Settlements, First, 50 

Meeting-House, First Built and its Dedication, .... 51 

Mceting-House, Second Built, 52 

Eli Bunker, his Donation, 53 

Dedication of Second Meeting-House, 54 

Meeting-House, Third Built, 54 

The North, the Freewill Baptist, and the Centre Meeting-Houses, 56 

Elder David Knowlton, First Minister, 57 

Rev. Enos George, Second Minister, 58 

Clergymen generally, gl 

Fashions in attending Church, 64 

An Incident, g^ 

Freewill Baptist Denomination, its Origin, 67 

Benjamin Randall, yg 

.Joseph Boody, sen., go 

Early Land Sales, 7j 

Names of First Proprietors, 73 

First Settlers, .,, 

First Families, 74 gt) 



CONTENTS. 



Dimensions of the Town, its Charter, &c., lOO 

Streams. 101 

Fishing and Hunting, and First Records, Ki> 

Province Road, 103 

Soldiers in the Old Frencli War, IKj 

The Revolution, 104-107 

Soldiers of the Revolution, 116-120 

Records, 108-116 

Mason Title, 108 

First Town Jleeting, 109 

Town Roads, 112 

Town Records, miscellaneous, 113 

Old French War, Soldiers of, 110 

Revolutionary Soldiers, 117 

Fonds and Rivers, 121 

Localities, the Parade, &c., 122 

Chocorua, 123 

Roads and Records, 127 

Schools and School-Houses, 129-135 

*i Marriages, 130 

The First Grist Mill, 137 

First Mail, 138 

First Stage Coach, . . - 139 

Social Library, 140 

War of 1812 and its Soldiers, 141 

Mexican War, 144 

Lawyers and the Law, 144 

Physicians of Barnstead, 151 

College and other Graduates, 157-103 

Physicians of Adjoining Towns, 159 

Merchants, 105 

Manufacturing, Hand Labor, &c., 107 

Bricks, 169 

First Saw Mill, 169 

Shoes, 170 

Town Pound, 171 

Town Hall, 172 

Sheep Marking, 172 

Representatives to the Legislature, - - - - • - 173 

Selectmen, 174 

Town Clerks, 177 

Post OfHces and Post BTasters, 178 

Justices of the Peace, 179 

Hara^ests and Huskings, *' - - - 179 

Native Fruits, 182 

Apple Trees, 183 



vni 



CONTENTS. 



Pears, Peaches, Cherries, &c.. . - - .... is3 

The Potato, IS^ 

Geology, ^^^ 

Earthquakes, 1^*^ 

CLIMATK. EXTKEJIES OF HEAT AND COLD. 189 

Sanitary Influences, 192 

September Gale of 1815, 19^ 

Longevity. 19'"> 

Casualties. 19« 

Bones, an Incident. lO'** 

Comets, their ArrEAKAxcES, &c , 199 

Birds, their Coming and Habits, 201 

Military, 204 

An Old Fashioned Training, 20fi 

Old Style and New, 209 

Projiinent Events (Chronology). 209 

Modern Synchronology, 213 

Population and Location, - - - 218 

The Great Kcbellion. Soldiers, &c., 219 

March of Improvement, 223 

Burial ol the Dead, 228 

Appendix. 

Biography of J. P. .Tewett. 231 

Necrology, 233 

Charter of Barnstead, 242 

An old Contract of a First Proprietor. 248 

Test List, from the Kevolntion, ' 251 

Catalogue of Patrons to tliis work. 253 

A Jlonth Among tlie Tombs (an Epic), 257 



ILLUSTRATION'S 



I. Portrait of Dr. J. P. .Tewett, 

II. Samoset's Welcome to the English, 

III. Death of King Philip, 

IV. A Conflict with tlie Indians. 
V. Portrait of Rev. Enos George, 

VI. Portrait of E. S. Nutter, Esq., 

VII. Indians Crossine the Suneook, 

VIII. A Wheel of the Olden Time, 

IX. An Old Homestead, 

X. The War Horse, . 

XT. Portrait of the Editor, . 



Front 



spieee. 

10 

24 

44 

CO 

92 

120 

168 

ISO 

218 



HISTOEY OF BARNSTEAD. 



NEW ENGLAND. 



Our New World, when first found by the white man, 
was full of wonders. Scarcely less wonderful were the 
varied events that followed its discovery. Events that 
wrought out to us the coming of the Pilgrims, the settling 
of New England by a generous manhood — perpetuating 
progress in agriculture, civilization, and the arts, and 
affording to history its noblest, proudest chapter. The 
landscape here, as our fathers first found it, was but little 
else than a vast solitude, an unbroken forest, extending 
from the sea to an unknown north and west. 

This domain, vast as it was, served as a boundless 
haunt for ferocious beasts of prey, and for scattered, wan- 
dering tribes of savages. An eternal stillness pervaded 
the land ; broken only occasionally by the bowlings of the 
storm, and by the boisterous roar of the ocean wave. Oh, 
how different was it then from now ! 

The bleak hoarse winds ceased not at misery's moan. 
To the shivering heart no pitying hand was raised ; 
Cheerless and cold an angry winter howled ; 
Imbittered was the night, and lonely was the day. 

Such was the New World when Columbus, in 1492, on the 
11th of October, at midnight, discovered it. 



10 HISTORY OP BARNSTEAD. 



1492 



After this, and up to the time of the landing of the 
Pilgrims at Plymouth, December 11, (O. S.), 1620, vari- 
ous adventurers from the Old World visited the coasts of 
New England ; some for the purpose of making liiscover- 
ies ; some to make trades with the natives ; and some 
with an intent of establishing settlements here, and for 
other purposes. 

The first of these voyagers was Sir Francis Drake, 
who, in 1586, visited these shores while on his adventurous 
voyage around the world. 

The privations which attended the first settlers in 
New England were great indeed; yet there seems to have 
been a providential design in their creation, and in the 
preparation of their adventurous minds for such a pur- 
pose. 

To fulfil such a destiny it was theirs to advance civiliza- 
tion, to fell the forests, to make the rough places smooth, 
and to fill the laud with fair fields and green pastures. By 
their faithfulness, force and endurance, towns, cities and 
Slates, as if by magic, came into life, exerting an influence 
to the utmost bounds of the American Continent, and 
beyond the seas. 

In our day it is entertaining and useful to contemplate 
the result of a beginning so benign and successful, — 
fraught as it proved to be with so much of hardships, en- 
durance, and self-sacrifice. They have gone to their ac- 
count — yet their histor}^ is written on the countenances of 
an enlightened, progressive people — of all men it may be 
read on the bright folds of our national flag whenever and 
wherever the sun's rays fall upon it, as it bears on high to 
the nations of the world the emblems of unity, inde- 
pendence, prosperity and beauty. 




S A M O S E T. 



16^0 NEW ENGLAND. 11 

The early pioneers, after landing at Plymouth, estab- 
lished a code of moral laws, wliieh, coupled with the 
religion they taught, proved salutary, and which, though 
two centuries have come and gone, still exist, taking deep 
root ; and which are destined forever to live, directing and 
inspiring the coming generations of men. 

Their absence from a native home, and former friends, 
their privations in the severe winters, their sutferings for 
the want of shelter, food and clothing ; these, and their 
many other trials, served but to increase their trust in that 
God who had sustained them, and whom they devoutly 
worshipped. To make this land a fit place for the enjoy- 
ment of their puritanical faith was the general design of 
their ambition ; and to this end they lived and labored. 

The first voyagers to New England had discovered 
many things new, curious and strange. Among the native 
savages which the Pilgrims found here in 1621, who had 
been spared to survive the plague of 1617-18, were two 
distinguished natives, iSamoset, and Tisquantum alias 
Squanto. They were loyal to their King, Massasoit, and yet 
were entirely friendly to the Pilgrims, who in turn treated 
them kindly. Samoset, as he came from the wilderness 
to meet them, has been described thus : 

" From thence Sajioset comes with heart and hand 
To welcome Englishmen, and grant them land; — 
His visage dark, with long and raven hair. 
No treacherous marks his beardless features bear, 
With frame erect, and strangely painted o'er. 
Belted around his loins, a Sagamore, 
Whose bony arm a bow and arrow held, 
A heart unsoiled his tawny bosom swelled 
To generous deeds. He broken English spake. 
And talked anon of men, — of Francis Drake, 
That gallant white man, years before, who came, 
And gave New England her historic name ; 



12 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1622 

Of Captain Smith who since surveyed the coast. 
And other voyagers, now a scattered host; 
Of former days some history tried to give, 
And • lay of land ' where rambling red men live." 

[From li. B. Caverlij's "Merrimac." page2i.'\ 

Some of the Indians (so-called) which the voyagers 
first found here, were from time to time taken and con- 
veyed by their captors to various parts of the Eastern 
World, and were oftentimes exhibited there as objects of 
wonder and curiosity. Among the many who were thus 
taken away, was Tisquantum, (previously named), whose 
brief history may be of interest in this place. 

He was conveyed to England by the adventurers Way- 
mouth and Hunt. But after a considerable time had 
elapsed, he obtained a passage back to this country and 
prior to 1617-18 had become chief of the Patuxet tribe. 
And, as it happened, war with the Tarratines and the 
plague of those years had destroyed that entire tribe, with 
the exception of this same Tisquantum, its chief, leaving 
him here alone in the wilderness, daily witnessing but little 
else than the unburied bones of his race. When the Pil- 
grims came he joined their church, became their inter- 
preter, and during the remainder of his life (two years) 
made himself useful to them. He died in December, 1622. 
This event has been poetized thus : 

■' Squanto meanwhile who'd served a peaceful end. 
And in the Pilgrim's God had found a friend, 
Bereaved and worn by care of bygone years 
In mazy pathways through a vale of tears. 
Fall* sick ; and as by fever low depressed, 
And life in doubt, to Pilgrims thus addressed 
His sovereign will : ' This hunting-ground is mine ; 
The lakes, the vales, those mountain-heights sublime. 
The green-grown banks where Merrimac bright glows. 
And all the hills far as man's vision goes. 



1625 NEW HAMPSHIRE. 13 

These spacious wilds my kindred, now no more, 

In full dominion held and hunted o'er ; 

Then dying, all their titles thus descend 

To me, TiSQUANTUM, now so near, tliis end 

Of life. To thee, my Tilgrim friends, I give 

This broad domain ; here may the white man live ; 

My bow and arrow, too. — I give thee all. 

Hence let me go, obedient to the call 

Of Angel Death. Adieu I' 

Thus gracious dies 
The last red man beneath Patuxet skies, 
And thus the English sole possession share 
By will from Squanto, all these regions fair. 
Forever thence to lay the forest low, 
To fence fair fields, and drive the crooked plow, 
To waste the wigwams which for ages spread 
The wild, and build broad mansions in their stead. 
School-houses neat, each in its needful place. 
And sacred temples to their God of grace." 

[Caverly's ^' Merrimac," page 26.] 

The destruction of the Patuxet tribe was regarded 
by the Pilgrims as a special interposition of Providence 
in opening a space for their colony in New England. 



NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



In 1620 Captain John Mason obtained from the Ply- 
mouth colony a grant of land extending from the river 
Naumkeag around Cape Ann to the river " Merrimake," 
and up these rivers to the farthest head thereof; — then to 
cross over from the head of the one to the head of the 
other. The territory thus included was called " Mari- 
anna." 



14 HISTORY OF BARNSTKAD. 1629 

The next year (1621) a grant was made of other ter- 
ritory jointly to Gorges and Mason, of all the lands 
between the rivers " Merrimake " and " Sagerdahock,'' 
(now known as the Kinnebec), extending hack to the 
great lake and river of Canada — and this tract was 
called Laconia. 

Under this grant Gorges and Mason, in conjnnction 
with others, styled themselves The Com^Kiny of Laco- 
nia^ and commenced the settlement of a colony at 
Piscataqua. At Little Harbor they established salt 
works. 

In 1629 Captnin Mason procured a new patent under 
the seal of '•'• Pl^aitiouth," for the land from the middle of 
Piscataqua river, and up the same " to the farthest head 
thereof;" and from thence northwestward "until sixt}' 
miles from the mouth of the harbour were finished." Also 
" through Merrimack river to the farthest head thereof, 
and so forward up in to the land westward until sixty miles 
is finished ; and from thence to cover over land to the end 
of the sixty miles accounted , from Piscataqua river, to- 
gether with all the islands within five leagues of the coast." 
This tract of land was called New Hampshire. It took 
its name from HarnjisMi-e, a county in England. 

This territory appears to have included the whole of what 
was called " the Wheelwright purchase," and this patejit 
was obtained, as may well be supposed, for the purpose of 
fortifying Mason's first title to the same tract of country, 
which had been obtained by him and Gorges seven years 
previously. 

Also, in the year 1629, some of the few planters on the 
Massachusetts Bay, being desirous of making a settle- 
ment in the neighborhood of Piscataqua, and following the 



1630 NEW HAMPSHIRE. 15 

example of those of Plymouth who had purchased their 
lauds of the Indians, and recognizing the validity of 
Indian titles, notified a general meeting of the tribes at 
Swampscott Falls, at which the}^ obtained a deed of Passa- 
conawa}', Sagamore of Peuacook, Runawick of Pentucket, 
Wahangowit, of Swampscott, and Rolls of Newchannock» 
wherein they express their desire to have the English come 
and settle among them as in Massachusetts ; and whereby 
they hoped to be strengthened against their enemies, the 
Tarratines. Accordingly with the universal consent of 
their subjects, for what they deemed a valuable considera- 
tion in coats, shirts and kettles, they sell to John Wheel- 
wright of Massachusetts, minister, Augustus Storer, Th. 
Wright, William Wentworth and Thomas Leavitt, "All 
that part of land bounded by the river Piscataqua and the 
river Merrimacke, and up said river to the Falls of Pa- 
Lucket : to begin at Newichewannok Falls in Piscataqua 
river, and down said river to the sea, and along said shore 
to the Merrimack, and from the Northeast line of the Mer- 
rimack at the Falls twenty English miles unto the woods, 
and from thence upon a straight line northeast till it 
meets with the main river from the falls to Newichewan- 
nok falls aforesaid." 

The northwest line here described ends within the 
towaiship of Amherst, and the northeast line crosses the 
river Merrimac at Amoskeag Falls, and passes through 
Chester, Nottingham, Harrington, Rochester, intersecting 
Newichewannok River ten miles above Salmon Falls. 

The conditions of this grant were, that Wheelwright 
should have ten years to begin a plantation at Swamp- 
scott Falls ; that other inhabitants should have the same 
privilege with him ; that no plantation should exceed ten 



16 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1631 

miles square ; that no lands should be granted but in 
townships ; that these should be subject to the Massachu- 
setts Colony, until they acquired a settled government 
among themselves ; that for each township there should 
be paid one coat of frocking cloth as an annual acknowl- 
edgement to Passaconaway or his successor ; and two 
bushels of corn to Wheelwright and his heirs ; the Indians 
reserving the riglit and liberty of Ashing, fowling, hunt- 
ing, and planting within said limits. 

By deeds like these the English inhabitants within this 
territory obtained titles from the native proprietors of the 
soil. 

Previous to the conveyance aboA^e named. Captain 
John Mason had a deed which he and his heirs held for 
many years, annoying the inhabitants, retarding their prog- 
ress, and ending in disputations, and which was settled 
at last by legislation. 

Laconia had been explored by adventurers, and de- 
scribed as containing divers lakes, and extending back to 
the great lake and rivers in the countrj^ of the Iroquois. 
The lake was said to be fair and large, containing many 
beautiful islands ; the air pure and salubrious ; the coun- 
try pleasant, having some high hills, with loftj'^ forests, 
fair valleys and fertile plains, abounding with vines, and 
with chestnuts, walnuts and many other sorts of fruit. 
The rivers were represented to be well supplied with fish 
and as environed with spacious meadows thick-set with 
timber-trees. 

In the great lake, as they said, there were four islands 
covered with pleasant woods and meadows, having in 
them stags, fallow elk, roebuck and other game. These 
islands were described to be commodiouslv situated for 



1632 NEW HAMPSHIRE, 17 

habitation and traffic in the surroundings of a fine lake, 
affording the most delicate fish for the household. 

In 1631 Neal, the agent of Mason, with several others, 
set out on fopt to visit the beautiful lake and settle a 
trade with the Indians. They calculated the distance to 
be less than a hundred miles. 

In the course of their travels they visited the White 
Mountains, describing them to be " a ridge extending a 
hundred leagues, on which snow Ij'eth all the year." On 
one of these mountains they report as having found a 
plain of a da3''s journey, whereupon nothing grows but 
moss ; and at the end of this plain a rude heap of many 
stones, one on the top of another, a mile high ; on which 
one might ascend from stone to stone like a flight of wind- 
ing stairs, at the top of which there was another level of 
about an acre, with a pond of clear water. This summit 
they desci'ibed to be far up above the clouds. That from 
here they beheld a vapour like a vast pillar drawn up by 
the sun-beams out of the vast lake into the air, where it 
was formed into a cloud. 

The country beyond these mountains northward was 
described to be full of rocky elevations as thick as mole- 
hills in a meadow, and clothed with infinite thick woods. 
They expressed the hope of finding precious stones on 
these mountains ; and something like crystals being picked 
up, these elevations took the name " Chrystal Hills." 

From here these adventurers continued their search for 
the lake until finding their provisions nearly spent, and, 
the forests of Laconia yielding no supply, they were 
obliged to return ; and at a time when they supposed 
themselves within a day's journey of the lake itself. 



18 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1641 

By the death of Mason in 1635 many a visionary 
scheme, for speculation, aggrandizement, and power, 
waned away and failed. Governor Winthrop in his jour- 
nal of 1636, says : " The last winter Captain Mason died. 
He was the chief mover in all attempts against us. But 
the Lord in mercy taking him away, all the business fell 
asleep." 

It would seem that the Colony of Massachusetts never 
had much respect for Mason, nor for his religion, nor for 
his method of doing business. 

After the death of Mason, New Hampshire was, by 
his will, lotted out to his heirs in portions to suit its pro- 
visions. There were however several churches and schools 
which were remembered in his legacies. 

Both Mason and Gorges did much in tlie settlement of 
this part of the country, but lost a considerable portion of 
their estates in the undertaking. Piscataqua and many 
other towns, having at this time no regular government, 
thought best to join with Massachusetts for aid and pro- 
tection. And in 1641 the Court on the part of Massachu- 
setts consented that these towns should be admitted and 
allowed to enjoy the same privileges with the rest of the 
Colony, for whom the Court was empowered to act. Under 
this arrangement these towns were allowed to send two 
Deputies to the General Court. The freemen had a right 
to vote in town affairs, although not church members. By 
such annexation Essex County was made to extend over 
all the English neighborhoods of New Hampshire. 

From this time a new impetus was given to settlements, 
especially in the lower towns. Mason was dead. His 
titles to this large tract of territory were not acknowledged 
by Massachusetts. His heirs soon laid claim to it, and 



1642 INDIAN TRIBES. 19 

deeded away numerous townships. Still their titles were 
doubted, and after a lapse of more than half a century a 
renewal of questions of law relating to the old Mason 
titles created much anxiety among the settlers. Suits 
were brought — settlers were ejected — and for more than 
a hundred years this old title was at issue, creating much 
expense and trouble among the settlers. Legislative ac- 
tion however settled it finally, and restored to the parties 
peace and quietude. 



THE INDIANS. 



In the early part of the 17th century the country along 
the coasts of New England was divided and claimed by 
difierent tribes of Indians, all speaking nearly the same 
language. 

Captain John Smith, a voyager in 1614, gives a minute 
account of them. Most of these tribes occupied the same 
positions for nearly a century after the country was being 
settled by the English. The Penobscots were represented 
to have been the most powerful nation in New England. 
They were under the control of a Bashaba, or chief, who 
held all the tribes in the district of Maine subjected to 
him as allies. 

He was at war with the Tarratines, a warlike nation, 
who from the north often invaded him, sometimes secretly, 
and who at length slew him and murdered his family. The 
particulars of this war are not fully known. But as tra- 



20 HISTORY OI BARNSTEAD. 



1643 



dition has it, the sachem above referred to, " had his prin- 
cipal seat upon a small hill, or rising upland, in the midst 
of a body of salt marsh in the township of Dorchester, 
near to a place called Squantum." 

After the death of their chief by the Tarratines a 
division arose between them in the choice of their next 
Bashaba, of which the Tarratines took advantage, and 
soon over-powering them, waged a war of extermination 
all along the coast of Massachusetts. 

Hand in hand, as it were, with the perpetrators of 
these deeds of bloodshed, the pestilence of 1617-18, or 
the plague as it was called, came upon them, so that in 
1620 the tribes upon the sea-coast from the St. Croix to 
Cape Cod had become greatly reduced in numbers, and in 
some regions almost entirely extinct. And thus the hills 
and vales, and banks of the New England rivers were 
made white with their bones. Such was the situation when 
the Pilgrims came. 

•• They meet ' old Squanto ' wandering here alone, 
Who, sore depressed — bereaved of friends and home — 
Recounts events which true tradition brought, 
Of Indian life, what sad experience taught. 
How far and near the dead unburied lay. 
His own Patuxet tribes all swept away ; 
Yet nations seaward deep in woods afar. 
Spared from the scourge of pestilence and war. 
Still thrive. There Massasoit, whose power maintains 
The peace of tribes, in full dominion reigns." 

[Caverly's '' Merrimac," l)age 23.] 

Captain Smith says : " They had three plagues within 
three years, extending about three hundred miles on the 
coast." " It is certain," he says, "■ there was an exceed- 
ingly great plague among them ; for where I have seen 



1644 INDIANS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. 21 

two or three hundreds, within three years afterwards there 
remained no more than thirty." Speaking of the Paw- 
tuckets, a powerful nation on the Merrimac River, who 
before that war with the Tarratines could muster 3,000 
warriors, he says scarcely as many hundreds remain- 
They overawed the Peuobscots and Pawtuckets, leaving 
the land strewed with the victims of their revenge. 

Whatever the disease above referred to may have 
been, it appears to have extended south as far as Cape 
Cod, and yet wherever it went, was extreme in its viru- 
lence, destroying almost all, so that the Pilgrims at their 
landing, and for many years afterwards, had but little to 
fear, as from the strong tribes which for years previously 
had inhabited this part of New England. Yet they had 
to use much precaution and vigilance as against the south- 
ern tribes and others of the interior who had been less 
afflicted of disease and war. 



INDIANS AS FOUND HERE. 



The first explorers of New Hampshire found the natives 
friendly. Generally they were entertained by them with 
a generous feeling, seldom if ever doubting their sincer- 
ity and truth. But when instead of being masters of their 
own soil, they found themselves in the attitude of degraded 
servants, through the indiscreet invasions of the white 
man, some of them became implacable enemies, quick at 
resentment, and reckless in revenge. 



22 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1645 

Among the most powerful tribes were the Pnwtuckets 
and Penacooks. They were ruled and led by the Saga- 
more, Passaconawa3\ He was a noted chief whose dominion 
extended over a very large part of New England. Nearly 
all the difficulties that arose among his people were sub- 
mitted to his consideration and decision. His territory 
extended from the sea to the mountains, and from the 
Penobscot to the Merrimac River. His places of resi- 
dence were at Pawtucket, Piscataqua, and at Penacook. 
Thomas Morton in his New England Canaan, writes of 
him thus : " Papsiquimo, the Sachem or Sagamore of 
the territories near Merrimack River, is a man of the best 
note and estimation in all these parts ; and (as mj' coun- 
tr^anan, Mr. Wood, declares in his prospectus) a great 
necromancer." We infer from an account of him in Win- 
throp's journal, that Passaconaway was a clever juggler as 
well as warrior. In full belief of his supernatural powers, 
his tribes were held in awe of him, and their destinies 
were controlled in a great degree by this as well as by his 
wise councils. They believed he could make a dry leaf 
turn green ; that he could make water burn, and then 
make it turn to ice ; that he could hold the rattle-snake in 
his hands without danger of hurt or harm. 

On the 17th of June, 1629, he, with his three subordi- 
nate Sagamores, sold all the lands extending from the 
Piscataqua to the Merrimac Rivers, and from the line of 
Massachusetts thirty miles into the country, to the Rev. 
John Wheelwright and his associates. 

By this conveyance Passaconaway seems to have 
strengthened his line of defence as against his eastern 
enemies by cherishing the friendship .which had ever 
existed between him and his English neighbors, and 



1650 INDIANS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. 23 

creating in tliem an interest to assist him if occasion 
might require it in defending his own cherished hunting- 
grounds. 

But in 1642 a suspicion arose among the English that 
a conspiracy was being formed by the Indians to crush 
out the white man. Thereupon men were sent out to 
arrest some of the principal chiefs ; and forty of them 
were directed to arrest Passaconaway, but he escaped by 
reason of an intervening storm. His son, Wonalancet, 
not being so fortunate, was takea, but his squaw escaped. 
As Winthrop relates it, they barbarously and insultingly 
led Wonalancet away by a rope ; that he loosened the 
rope and escaped from them, but was finally retaken. 

For such a wrong Passaconaway was afterwards dis- 
trustful of his English advisors. For this, in 16 i7, he 
refused to see his friend Eliot, while both were giving 
attendance to the fishing season at Pawtucket Falls. Being- 
fearful that the English would kill him, he regarded their 
religion, which seemed to tolerate such invasions upon the 
rights of the red man, to be unworthy of his attention. But 
in 1648, when Eliot again visited Pawtucket Falls at the 
fishing season, Passaconaway was then pleased to hear his 
preaching. To the assembled Indians Eliot then preached 
from this text : — 

" From the rising of the sun even to the going down of the 
same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles ; and in every 
place incense shall be ofiered unto my name, and a pure oflering : 
for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord 
of hosts." — Malachi, i : xi. 

The Indians paid respectful attention, and after the 
discourse was closed proposed many questions. 



24 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1660 

At length Passaconaway arose amid the most pro- 
found attention and announced his belief in the God of 
the English. Says Eliot : " He said ' he had never heard 
of God before as he now doth ; ' " and that he would per- 
suade his sons to do the same, pointing to two of them 
who were present. 

Passaconaway was doubtless sincere in his belief, 
and as it appears, so continued until his death. We have 
but little else of this chief until 1660, when he had be- 
come old, he was at Pawtucket Falls, on the Merrimac, 
at a great assemblage of Indians, where, as Captain Goo- 
kin says, they had a great feast. 

The old Sagamore then and there made a farewell ad- 
dress to his tribes. His raiment was plain but somewhat 
gaudy and beautiful. He was full of sorrow, being deeply 
affected ; his utterances were tremulous yet musical. 
Standing erect before that assembled multitude, he said : 

" Hearken to the words of your Father! I am au old oak 
that has withstood the storms of more than a hundred winters ! 
Leaves aud branches have been stripped from me by the winds 
and frosts ! My eyes are dim ; my limbs totter — I must soon 
fall ! 

When young no one could bury the hatchet in a sapling be- 
fore me. My arrows could pierce the deer at a hundred rods. 
No wigwam had so many furs, no pole had so many scalp-locks 
as Passaconaway 's. Then I delighted in war. The whoop of 
the Peuacooks was heard on the Mohawk, and no voice so loud 
as Passacouaway's. The scalps upon the pole in my wigwam 
told the story of Mohawk suffering. The English came — they 
seized the lauds — they followed upon my foot-path. I made 
war on them; but they fought with fire and thunder — my 
young men were swept down before me wheu no one was near, 
them. I tried sorcery against them, but they still increased and 



IC,7C> INDIANS. IN NKW HAMPSHIRE. 25 

prevailed over me and mine; and I ,!j,ave place to them and 
retired to my beautiful Island, Naticook. I, that can make the dry 
leaf turn green and live again; I, that can take the rattle-snake 
in my pahn as I would a worm without harm ; I, that have had 
communication with the Great Spirit, dreaming and awake — 1 
am powerless before the pale faces ! Tliese meadows they shall 
turn witli the plow ; these forests shall fall by the axe ; the pale 
fixces shall live upon your hunting-grounds, and make their vil- 
lages tipon your fishing-places ! 

The Great Spirit says this, and it nuist be so ! We are few 
and powerless before them. We must bend before the storm — 
peace with the white man is the command of the Great Spirit, 
and the wish — the last wish — of Passa'^onaway." 

Soon after this, his mantle fell ui)oii his son Wonalan- 
eet, who continued Sagamore of the Penaeooks for several 
years, yet he was always at peace with the English. 

At the breaking out (.f King Phili[)'s war he was 
strongly besought by the neighboring tribes to engage in 
it, but he continued friendly, iis did also the Ossipees and 
Pequawkets. Many of the Indians who had joined Philip 
against the English had returned into the wilderness and 
united with the Penaeooks, the Pequawkets and Ossipees. 
hoping thereby to be taken as belonging to those peaceful 
tribes, and thus avoid danger. 

In 1676 there came to Cocheco (now Dover) Wonalan- 
cet, and with him and through his influence about four 
hundred Indians. These had the promise of good usage, 
and had the advice of iMajor Waldron been followed they 
would have been treated ditferently, and good faith would 
have been kept with them. But the result proved other- 
wise. Major Waldron, as has been alleged, sometimes 
may have been unfair in his dealings with the Indians in 
this, that " his fist " may have been made somewhat heav- 



26 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1C80 

ier than a pound weight in the purchase of furs — yet 
generally he had been their friend. There had been 
various troubles l)y which many of the Indians had be- 
come hostile to the English. Consequently an order had 
been issued to capture and secure all the Indians as they 
were then gathered at Cocheco. Tlu^ English got up 'a 
military parade there ; and as had been previously con- 
certed, the Indians had been furnished with cannon mounted 
on wheels, which pleased them. The gunners were sup- 
plied from the English ; the Indians managing the drag- 
ropes, and a sham-figh: commenced. As if by accident, 
one of the canuons exploded in the direction of the line of 
Indians, killing some and wounding others ; at the 
same time the English infantry by a preconcerted manoeu- 
vre enclosed the Indians on all sides, securing and disarm- 
ing them without loss or injury on their part. 

Wonalancet and the friendly Penacooks, Pequawkets 
and Ossij^ees were dismissed to their homes, while the 
others to the number of 300, known to l)e fighting men, 
were taken to Boston, seven or eight of them hanged, and 
the rest of them sold into slavery. 

" Oh, God forgive our Saxon race ; 
Blot from thy book, no more to trace 

Fraternal wrath infernal; 
That taints the atmosphere we breathe — 
The sky above, and earth beneath. 

Like dearth and death eternal I " 

[Curcrli/'s Poems, vol. 2. p. 17.] 

Wonalancet, although he had lost all faith in the 
promises of the English settlers, still adhered to the 
advice given him by his father. He sought peace and 
was in the habit of giving notice to them of danger 
whenever there was occasion for it. 



168G INDIANS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. 27 

In 1686 he sold out all his tracts of land in New 
Hampshire and Massachusetts, not previously disposed 
of, and left the pale faces and the graves of his fathers 
forever, and obtained a distant home in the dense forest 
where no intruder could come to disturb the peace and 
quiet of his old age. 

The Pawtuckets, after his departure, began to diminish 
and gradually vanished away, through the over-powering 
numbers and influence of their white neighbors, who as it 
seemed, continually intruded upon their hunting grounds, 
and otherwise became more and more offensive. 

Finally the Indians of New Hampshire for many years 
roamed quietly, and gradually diminished in numbers ; 
yet they obeyed the injunction of their old Sachem, and 
the example of his son, who had ever proved true and 
friendly to the English. 

The encroachments of the English upon the lands of 
the Indians, often and continually made, had everywhere 
in New England become a source of much discontent. 

The French, many of whom had settled in the north 
and east, were inclined to take sides with the natives, 
and doubtless did much to fan the flame of impending 
hostilities. Mad, with revenge, the Indians soon made 
war upon their English neighbors, by killing their cattle, 
by burning their hay-stacks, and by violence in almost all 
the forms which a savage could invent. 

The English of course imputed most of this trouble to 
French influence ; and charged much of the blame to one 
Sebastian Ralle, a French Jesuit who resided among the 
Indians at Norridgewock. Father Ralle, as they called 
him, had resided there some thirty years, had built a 
chapel, and was the religious teacher of many of the 



28 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1730 

Indians that wandered in the valley of the Kennebec and 
elsewhere. For wrongs on the part of Ealle the English 
sought to arrest him ; and in 1722 a deputation of armed 
men under Colonel Thomas Westbrook were sent to catch 
and imprison him, but anticipating th«'ir approach, Ralle 
escaped. Yet in Ralle's " strong box," (as it was called) 
they found certain letters from the French Governor in 
Canada, which tended to prove with much certainty that 
Ralle had been one of the leaders in exciting the Indians 
to violence upon the English. 

For these proceedings against their spiritual adviser 
the Indians became still more exasperated, and an attack 
upon the settlement at Merry Meeting Bay soon fol- 
lowed ; then an attempt was made to take St. Geoige's 
Fort, and then in this same year (1722) raids were made 
by the Indians on various villages in New Hampshire. 

Thereupon proclamations by the Governors of Massa- 
chusetts and New Hampshire were made, declaring war 
against them. Companies of soldiers were raised and 
bodies of armed men were sent in pursuit of the savages ; 
l)ut the effort *vas attended vvith very little success. The 
Indians still sought revenge; and the fall of 1724 was 
marked by more than ordinary depredations and violence. 
Fear and consternation prevailed in the frontier towns as 
well as at the older and larger places on the coast. 

The government was poor and inefficient. It was 
difficult to raise men. Great excitement i)revailed. 

About this time attacks were made upon Dunstable, 
a part of which is now Nashua. During this year the 
famous battle at Pequawket was fought by Lovewell. 



17(10 INDIANS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. 29 

The Indians assailed the English garrison-houses, took 
whole families prisoners, killing and scalping many, and 
carrying off others into Canada. 

These depredations inducing war and bloodshed, con- 
tinned for many years, making it dangerous for the 
English to labor in their fields, or even to attend public 
worship on the Sabbath. 

Exeter, Cocheco, Penacook. Contoocook, Suncook, and 
many other places were often made fields of carnage and 
l)lood. Carnage over which the Indian was in the habit 
of exulting with complacent ^merriment even when his 
victim was dying by cruel tortures, such as none but a 
demon could devise or inflict. 

His warfare was secret. He sought the ambush to 
gain knowledge of the numbers and strength of the place 
to be assailed, and then to murder and scalp his victim, 
and set fire to his dwelling-house. It was thus that the 
then small villages of New England, always in fear, were 
sometimes laid waste. 

On some occasions these Indian raids were attended 
and aided by Frenchmen from Canada ; England and 
France at that time being at war. Thus many years 
transpired, attended with more or less of carnage. About 
the year 1760 the Indian wars began to cease. The Eng- 
lish had become too numerous to be conquered. The 
natives thereupon left their old haiuits and retreated to 
their more dense forests. Their tribes had become feeble 
and the French and English had concluded a treaty of 
peace. After this the Indians were in the habit aniuially 
of returning back to their old fishing and hunting-grounds, 
and were thus permitted to visit the homes of their youth, 
and the graves of their fathers. 



30 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1762 

PEQUAWKETS. 



The tribe next to the Penacooks toward the east, were 
the Pequawkets, that wandered beyond the eastern shores 
of Lake Winnipesaugee ; they were, liowever, subject to 
the Penacooks, the same as those further north. 



SCALPING. 



This feat was performed by the savage as follows : — 
He places his foot upon the neck of his prostrate enemy, 
twists the fingers of his left hand into the scalp-locks, 
cutting with a knife in his right hand a circular gash 
around the lock, he tears the scalp from the head, and 
fastens it to his girdle with a yell of triumph, victory and 
success. The scalps upon their belts on public occasions 
were worn to designate the warriors. 



INDIAN PASTIMES. 



An Indian was always at leisure. He knew no over- 
tasking of the brain ; had no trouble in extensive trade ; 
no taxes to pay ; no rents nor national debts. All his 



1765 INDIAN PASTIMES. 31 

surroimdings were free to him. Each had a share in the 
cool hunting-grounds and in tiie best fishing-places. His 
corn-fieltls were where he sowed liis seed. His tobacco 
was liis constant luxury, and his fishing and hunting his 
favorite pastime. His wants being few were easily sup- 
plied. His bow, arrow and fishing-i'od afforded him a 
competence in food and raiment. These instraments were 
substantially the implements of his toil. With his squaw, 
who often wandered from the wigwam in company with 
his tribe, Ise was usually happ3^ His home was filled with 
tlie song and dance, and smoking of the pipe, or in 
" drinking tlie pipe," as they sometimes termed it. The 
Merrimac. the Suncook, and their tributaries aftbrded him 
many of his best fishing-places. These rivers were grand 
highways that brought ihem at every returning spi'ing a 
full supply of salmon, alewives and shad. At that day 
no dams or bars being in the way to impede the advent or 
progress of the finny tribes, they came in vast numbers, 
and ever proved a source of wealth to the Indian. At the 
forks of the Merrimac the salmon, which always seek the 
coldest climes, generally took the cold water and went up 
the Pemigewaset, while the others took to the warm 
water and followed the Winnipesaugee to the lake or into 
the smaller streams. From these rivers and their tribu- 
taries the thirty thousand Indians that used to trail along 
these valleys obtained a very large share of their support. 
For thousands of years tlie waters of our rivers had 
afforded the red man an abundant supply. Salmon weigh- 
ing thirty pounds were connnon here. There were then 
no gates to close up nature's highway, no dashing wlieels 
to frighten back the fish, nor was there then any need of 
artificial steps or fish-ways to lead the finny tribes (as are 



32 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 177t 

now invented, but as yet in vain) over liigb dains into the 
ponds above. Kind nature hail given to tlie red man the 
waierS of these rivers to run freely down as from the 
creation they liad run ; and had given to the fish a counuon 
highway to advance upward in them. Yet, b}' what is now 
termed the progress of civilization, the tribes of fish as 
well as the tribes of red men have become almost extinct 
in this region. 

Sturgeons used to be caught in the Merrimac. As this 
kind of fish passed up the river, two Indians, the one to 
scnil the boat, and the other to throw the weapon, would 
spear them. Many a noble sturgeon from year t(* year 



INDIAN TRACES AND REMAINS. 



Soon after the close of the Frent h war, the Indians 
withdrawing from their rivers and ponds and from their 
hunting and trapping-grounds in New Hampshire, grad- 
ually vanished away. This opened the way to English 
settlers, who ventured further into the forests thus vacated, 
and sequestering and taking possession of the lands, 
built houses and otherwise made progress, sometimes 
aggressively excluding the red man, until at length he 
became unknown in this part of New England. 

In his departure he left behind him not the ruins of 
desolated cities caused by destructive wars, not the ruins 
of lofty castles, nor of world-renowned monasteries ; 



1765 INDIAN TRACES AND REMAINS. 33 

he left nothing — absolutely nothing — but now aud 
then a sample of his bow and arrow, his chisel and his 
mortar. 

" His foot-steps fondly dwelt where now we trace 
Primeval heir-looms of the human race ; 
The chisel smooth aud tomahawk, tirst made 
Of stoue, ere Art had formed the iron blade; 
Where from a narrow dock with native crew 
He launched in naval pride his first canoe. 
And plowed the Suncook fair. His dripping oar 
Ripples the waters never pressed before, 
Bestirs the scaly tribes to nervous fear 
For rights most sacred thus invaded here. 
As if by instinct they the chieftain knew ** 

To be a tyrant and a glutton too. 
Intent on native beast, on bird or fish 
By slaughter dire tp fill a dainty dish; 
Whose webs are nets from bark of trees alone, 
And mills that grind are mortars made of stone. 
Who clfljfcd his tribes, if clad they e'er appear 
In raiment plundered from the bounding deer; 
Who maketh treacherous hooks from guiltless bones. 
And drags a deadly net o'er sacred homes." 

[•• The Merrimac," b7/ R. B. C.p. 21.] 

The Indian was no artizau. His wigwam and birch 
canoe evinced the best skill in architecture which he ever 
had. His paintings were extravagant and gaudy, his 
colors brilliant. The flesh side of skins taken by the 
Indian hunter was gen^-ally used by the painter. These 
he spotted in curious fantastic hues, and often with high 
colorings such as none but a wild man could make, con- 
trive or invent. He knew but little, and sought for im- 
provements in nothing. 

" Lo, the poor Indian I whose untutored mind 
Sees God iu clouds, and hears Him in the wind; 
His soul proud science never taught to stray 
Far as the solar walk or milky way." 

[Pope.] 



34 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1765 



ORIGIN OF THE RED MAN. 



The origin of the natives of this new world is like a 
sealed book. All speculations in reference to it are 
attended with extreme doubt and uncertainty. No theory 
is satisfactory. These benighted sons, of themselves 
knew nothing, and had no definite idea of the paternity 
of their race ; and in this perhaps we are no wiser than 
they. Many have believed them to be of Asiatic origin 
and that they had crossed over here upon the ice that 
covers the northern coast of America. Yet. opposed to 
such a theory is the fact that there is a vast dissimilarity 
now existing between the Asiatics and tJ^ North Amer- 
ican Esquimaux and other Indians. Reason would seem 
to warrant the belief that in the absence of proof to the 
contrar}', the same race of men that our forefathers first 
found, had always been here. That the " New World " had 
existed for thousands of 3'ears without having a race of 
men upon it, would seem but little short of a rash pre- 
sumption. That it had been left to accident, that it had 
been left to be peopled by the passing of a tribe from 
Asia, over an unknown Arctic region, too cold for human 
existence to get to it, would seem to be a presumption 
quite as rash. On the whole we can but perceive that the 
wild forests of America when discovered by the white 
race were as well suited to the Indian as the Indian was 
to the forests. And that the Indian here was no more a 
matter of accident than was the forest itself; and that both 
were but parts of one and the same great design, would 
seem to be the most reasonable theory. 



1765 ORIGIN OP THE RED MAN. 35 

In discoursing upon his origin, &c., a modern writer 
has speculated as follows : 

" Then next from curious germ beneath the sod, 
Now blest of needful care of nature's God, 
Whose eye all-seeing here began to scan 
The strange invention of mysterious man; 
By A'igorous tlirift. as fell the beaming rays 
Of Phebus, fitly felt on vernal days. 
Came forth an Indian's* form divine. 

First spawn of nuinliood on the stream of time, ' 

Basking in valleys wild, earth-formed, earth-fed 
For ripened age, — by native reason led ; 
And chief o'er beast and bird in power became 
A fitful terror to the timid game. 

Increased at length by nature's self-same laws 

To numerous tribes prolific — men and squaws 

From artful wigwams new, spread o'er the land, 

First skill evinced in architecture grand. 

He wanders wild, belted with arrows keen. 

And blest with knowledge right and wrong between, 

A stately priest at peace. Provoked to strife 

He wields a hatchet and a scalping knife 

With dire revenge. E'er true to self and squaw, 

He knows no faith, no code, but nature's law. " 

[Carerly.] 



And so it was ; the manners and habits of the native 
Indians for ought we know, had always been the same as 
now. Tradition affords us nothing" otherwise. They are 
known only as they were lirst found by the adventurer 
from the Old World. Their history, circumscribed as it is, 
within the limits of their short existence with the white 
man, comprises the record of their race for all time. 
Probably for thousands of years they had been nothing 



*The natives were called Indians by Columbus through mistake, who 
at first supposed he had arrived on the eastern coast of India, by which 
error they took their name. 



36 HISTORY OF BAKNSTEAD. 1765 

but wild hunters^ with manners and habits the same — 
unimproved — Unchanged. 

'' And thus o'er land and stream for ages long, 
A race of red men, vagrant plod along. 
With language taught from rustic nature's throne, 
And habits each peculiarly their own; 
On growth spontaneous fed, content with prey. 
What serves the purpose of a single day. 
Their God is seen afar at rise of sun; 
Their life in heaven is hunting here begun; 
By laws un-written sachems rule the tribes. 
And lead the host, wherever ill betides. 
To fatal war. By force of arrows hurled. 
They reigned sole monarchs in this Western World. 

[ Caverly^s '■'■ Merrimac," p . 22.] 

It is asserted that when the Puritans iirst landed, there 
wei'e then about twenty nations or tribes of Indians in 
New England. These nations were distinct from e'ach 
other, but united sometimes for mutual protection and for 
the purposes of war. In every tribe there was a chief or 
sagamore, to which all the others paid deference. But as 
has already been stated, the Indian wars and the plague of 
1617-18 had greatly reduced their numbers. 



MASSACHUSETTS COLONY. 



Before the soil of New Hampshire took to itself a dis- 
tinct name it had been included as belonging to the Mas- 
sachusetts Colony. 

The first General Court in this Colony was held at 
Boston, in 1630. It was made up of the freemen of 
the corporation at large. 



1765 THE PURITANS. 37 

Being desirous to establisli a religious Commonwealth, 
they ordained, among other things, that "none but church 
members should be admitted to the freedom of that body 
politic, or enjoy the privilege of voting." 

Up to the year 1640 there had arrived here in two 
hundred and ninety-eight ships, twenty-one thousand and 
two hundred passengers. 

Most of these emigrants were from England. They 
had left their former happ}^ homes with the hopeful intent 
to find in their distant New England, " freedom to wor- 
ship God." 

Their creed was strictly puritan, and, during the first 
year of their landing, they established the Plymouth 
Colony on the same faith and on the liberty of faith 
which had been denied them at home. 

COURT TRIALS. 

The courts, before any regular codes of laws were 
established, in New England, adhered to the laws of 
Moses to some extent, as well as to the old English laws, 
so far at least as such laws were believed to have a 
tendenc}^ to good manners and morals. 

CURIOUS DECISIONS. 

In 1649 : '• Josiah Plaistowe, for stealing four baskets 
of corn from the Indians, is ordered to return them eight 
baskets — to be fined five pounds — and hereafter to be 
called Josias, and not Mr. as formerly he used to be." 

" Capt. Stone, for abusing Mr. Ludlow and calling 
him Just-ass., is find one hundred pounds, and prohibited 
from coming within the patent without the Governor's 
leave, upon pain of death." 



38 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1765 

Intemperance was emphatically " a plague " at the 
time of the early settlements ; more so, if possible, than 
at the present day. 

Among the hundreds of ships then freighted for the 
New World was always to be found that bane, called 
" flre-water," " ockuby," and other Indian names, by 
which they chose to designate it. 

It was shipped from England and sold to the Indians 
for furs and other articles of merchandize obtained in 
return. 

Intemperance then, as ever since, led to many otfences. 
Hence it appears : 

" John Wedgeivood, for being found in the company 
of drunkards, was ordered by the court to be set in the 
stocks." And " Sargent Perkins was ordered to carry 
forty turfts to the fort for being drunk." 

MISCELLANEOUS COURT RECORD. 

" Edward Palmer^ for his extortion in taking two 
pounds thirteen shillings and four pence for the wood- 
work of the Boston stocks, is fined five pounds and 
ordered to sit one hour in the stocks." 

" Capt. LoveJl is admonished to take heed of light 
carriage."- 

" Thomas Pet it ^ for suspicion of slander, idleness and 
stubbornness, is censured to be severely whiped, and to 
be kept in the hold." 

" Catherine^ wife of Richard Cornish, was found suspi- 
cious of incontenency, and is sereously to take heed." 

" Daniel Clark, found to be an immoderate drinker, 
was fined forty shillings." 



1765 COURT RECORD. 39 

•' Robert Shorthase, b}' the blood of God, was sentenced 
to have his tongue put into a cleft stick, and to stand for 
the space of half an honr." 

" It is ordered by the conrtthat laborers shall not take 
more than 1 2d per day for their work, and Gd with meat 
and drink, under pain of x s." 

"• George Palmer having committed folly with Margery 
Rnggs, through her allurements ; because he confessed 
voluntarily, lie was only set in the pillory and so dis- 
missed." 

'• Margery Euggs, for enticing and alluring George 
Palmer, was sentenced to be severely whiped." 

'■'■ Elnor Pierce, her husband was bound 10 £ for her 
good behaviour, and to bring her to stand in the market 
place, next market day, with a paper, for her light 
behaviour." 

" Jane Hawkins, the wife of Richard Hawkins, had 
liberty till the beginning of the third month, called May, 
and the Majestrates, (if she did not depart before) to dis- 
pose of her, and in the meantime she is not to meddle 
in Surgery, Physicks, drinks, plasters, or ogles, nor to 
question matters of religion, except with the elders for 
satisfaction." 

" It is ordered by the court that the worshipfuU Tho. 
Georges and Edward Godfrey, Counsellors of this Prov- 
ince, shall order all the inhabitants from Pascataqne to 
Kennibonke, which have any children unbaptized, that as 
soon as a minister is settled in an^^ of their plantations, 
they shall bring their said children to Baptism, and if any 
shall refuse to submit to said order, that then the persons 
so refusing shall be summoned to answer this their con- 
tempt at the next general court to be holden in this Prov- 
ince." 



40 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1765 

" It is ordered at this court that all juries between 
party and party shall have for their fees 8 d per man for 
every action above 40 s. ; if the action be under 40 s. we 
allow them 5 d. per man." 

" Thomas Smith, at the last court holden here, being 
arrested for slandering Mr. Arthur Brown and Mr. Robert 
Sauke}' for saying they have stolne a pigg, the matter was 
putt to arbitracion and ended." 

In 1651: "We (the Grand Jury) present Goody 
Mendum for saying to Tho. GuUison and John Davis ye 
Divells — fined 2 s. 6 d. for swearing. 

" We present the wife of Abraham Cumley, for giving 
reproachful speeches against ye Majestrates, in saying she 
thought " they were come about one foolery or other." 
Ordered to find l)onds of 20 £. 

"We present Joane Andrews, the wife of John Andrews, 
for selling a furkin of Butter to Mr. Nicholas Davis which 
had two stones in it, containing fourteen pounds 2 oz. in 
weight. 

" This presentment is owned by Joane Andrews, and 
John Andrews, her husband, is bound in a bond of five 
pounds that Joane, his wife, shall stand in a Towne meet-- 
ing at Yorke, and in a towne meeting at Kittery till two 
hours bee expired, with her offence written upon a paper 
in capetall letters pinned upon her forehead. This injunc- 
tion fulfilled at Yorke, according to order and att Kittery 
in the same manner." 

In 1666 : " Wee present Julean Cloyse, wife to John 
Clo^'se, for a tale bearer from house to house, setting dif- 
ferences between neighbors." 

"Julian Cloyse upon the court's examination is found 
guilty of ye offence and is bound to her good behaviour 



1765 BARBARISM. 41 

unto the next Court of Pleas, at Casco, in a bond of five 
pounds." 

" Wee present William Thompson for rebellion against 
his father and mother-in-law." 

" Wee present Mr. Thorpe, for scandalizing Mr. Nor- 
ton, and say that hee held forth false doctrine in a booke 
set forth by Mr, Norton. Admonished, and paying officer's 
fees, is discharged." 

"We present Miss Sarah Morgan for striking her 
husband. The delinquent to stand 'with a gagg in her 
mouth halfe an hoiu-e at Kittery at a Publique Towne Meet- 
ing, and the cause of her sentence writ upon her forehead, 
or pa}^ 50 s. to the countr3^" 

BARBARISM. 

The custom of wearing long hair, after the manner of 
the barbarous Indians, as Governor Endicott used to term 
it, was at that period deemed contrary to the word of God, 
which saj's : "It is a shame for a man to wear long- 
hair." 

The rule in the Colony was that men should not wear 
their hair below their ears. 

In a clergyman, long hair was extremely offensive^ as 
they were expected at all times " to observe circumspec- 
tion with open ears." 

MONEY. 

The first money coined in the Massachusetts Colony 
was made in the year 1652. The court ordered that all 
pieces should have on the one side " Massachusetts," with a 
tree in the middle ; on the other, " New England, 1652." 

6 



42 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1765 

A very large sum was coined, and the mint-master, it is 
said, made a great profit from it, as be iiad fifteen per 
cent, out of every twenty shillings for coining. 

QUAKERS. 

In 1656 the Quakers were greatly persecuted. Mary 
Fisher and Anna Dustin were the first to avow their 
principles openly. 

On the 8th day of September, being brought before 
the court, they atfirmed that they were sent of God to 
reprove the people of their sins ; and being questioned, 
after a pause replied that they had the same call that 
Abraham had to go out from his own country. (They 
came from Barbadoes.) 

A great number of the books which they had brought 
with them were seized and reserved for the fire, and some 
of the men and women were committed to prison. 

At this time no special laws had been enacted for the 
punishment of Quakers. But they were taken by virtue 
of a general law then in force, which had been made for 
the punishment of heretics. And the Court passed sen- 
tence of banishment upon them all. 

Afterwards several laws upon this subject were 
enacted, among which were the following : 

"Any Quaker after the first conviction, if a man, was 
to lose his ear, and for the second offence the other ear. 
A woman-, each time, to be severely whipped. And for a 
third time, being a man or a woman, to have the tongue 
bored through with a red-hot iron." 

In October, 1658, a law was passed punishing with 
death " all Quakers who should return into this jurisdic- 



1765 WITCHCRAFT. 43 

tiou after banishment." Under this Uxw four persons were 
executed. 

Much censure has been passed upon the New England 
Colonies on account of their enactments as against the 
Quakers — and perhaps to a certain extent justly. But 
it must be remembered that the Quakers of those early 
times were not the Quakers of the joresent time, who, 
though few in numbers, prove to be a generous, inoffen- 
sive, influential people. 

These laws wei-e passed to rid the Colony of certain 
fanatics who called themselves b}^ that name, and who 
constantly made themselves offensive under the garb of a 
religious notion or creed, and appeared to have been better 
subjects for a mad-house than for a Christian church. 

They often entered into the churches without right, as 
they did at Hampton, Salem, and Newbury, and were in 
the habit of declaring the preacliing to be an al)omination 
to the Lord. 

Thomas Newcomb w^ent into the meeting-house in 
Boston with tw^o glass bottles, and broke them before the 
congregation, and declared " thus will the Lord break you 
in pieces." Under such delusion Deborah Wilson 
advanced on foot through the streets of Salem naked. In 
various ways the}^ became offensive, oftentimes making 
themselves violators of the public peace. But it will not 
be pretended that any such offences could justify incon- 
siderate, unjust, or oppressive legislation. 

WITCHCRAFT. 

The first instance of a' trial for witchcraft in Massa- 
chusetts occurred in 1648, when Margaret Jones, of 
Charlestown, who being indicted as a witch, was found 



44 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. Iv65 

guilty, and uudev the laws of Euglaiitl agaiust such sup- 
posed crime, was executed. " 8he was charged of having 
such a malignancy that if she laid her' hands on man, 
woman or child in anger, they were seized presently with 
deafness, vomiting or other sickness, or other violent 
pains." 

In 1G92 a great excitement was again revived on 
account of its supposed prevalence. It commenced at 
this time in the town of Danvers, then a part of Salem, 
about the last of February. Several children at first 
began to act in a curious, unaccountable manner. Their 
strange conduct continuing for several days, their friends 
betook themsehes to fasting and pra^'er. During relig- 
ious services the children were still, but after the service 
they would renew their former unaccountable conduct. 

This was deemed sufficient evideucti that the}' were 
moved by an evil hand, and every exhibition of the sort 
was then regarded as witchcraft. AfteV a while these 
children began to bring accusations against divers indi- 
viduals in that vicinity, being severally charged of bewitch- 
ing them. Unfortunately the children were credited, and 
the suspected' persons were arrested and imprisoned. 
From that time the contagion spread rapidly over the 
neighboring towns, and soon appeared in several parts of 
Essex county as well as cases now and then in Middlesex 
and Suffolk. Individuals at Andover, Ipswich, Glouces- 
ter, Boston and other places, were accused and held for 
trial. 

For some time those who were accused were persons 
of the low^er class. But at length accusations were 
extended even to persons of high rank and distinction. 
This delusion had now become fearful. Before the close 



17G5 WAB. 45 

of September of that year nineteen persons had been 
executed for witchcraft. Among the victims was one 
Giles Gory, who was pressed to death for refusing to 
put himself on trial before the Jnry. 

Most, if not all of these persons died declaring them- 
selves innocent of the crime laid to tlieir charge. 

At length the courts began to be convinced tliat their 
proceedings had been rash, and their judgments withont 
any just foundation. A special session of the court was 
then holdeu on this subject, and lifty persons then being 
held for trial, were acciuitted. Others were reprieved by 
the Governor. These proceedings were followed by a 
release of all who were then in prison. 

It ought to be said, perhaps, that if human testimony, 
coming from credible witnesses, is to be credited, many 
things happened at that time inducing a belief in witch- 
craft, which even to many people of our day have never 
been satisfactorily explained. 



A war by the French and Indians commenced about 
the year IGDO. It harrassed the English settlements here 
all along the frontier nearly the whole time np to its close, 
September 11, 1G97. 

In a few years another war broke out in Europe, 
which gave rise to other hostilities in America. 

So that in 1707 Massachusetts, New Hampshire and 
Rhode Island despatched a military force against Port 
Royal, in Nova Scotia, but the expedition failed. 

In 1710 New England, with the mother country, suc- 
ceeded with a fleet, in reducing the place. This was in 



46 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1765 

the reign of Queen Anne, and they changed its name to 
Annapolis, in honor of her name. 

Enconraged by this snccess, Nicholson, the com- 
mander, visited England, and proposed an expedition 
against Canada. 

His proposition was adopted, and in Jnne, 1711, 
Admiral Walker, with a Heet of fifteen sliips of war and 
forty transports, bringing an army of veteran troops, 
arrived in Boston. They sailed for Quebec abont the last 
of Jnly of that year. At tlie same time General Nichol- 
son repaired to Albany to take command of the forces 
that were to proceed by land. 

When the fleet had advanced ten leagnes np the St. 
Lawrence the weather became fogg}' and tempestnons. 
Nine of the transports perished. Weakened by this 
disaster, the admiral returned to England, and the New 
England troops to their homes. General Nicholson hav- 
ing learned the fate of the fleet, returned with his troops 
to Albany. 

In 1713, March 31st, peace was concluded between 
France and England, at Utrecht. 

In 1744, March 29tli, war again broke out between 
France and England, and the Colonies here were again 
involved in its calamities. 

The English commerce and fisheries had suffered great 
injuries from privateers, fitted out at Louisburg, then a 
strong fortress on the Island of Cape Breton. That place 
had been considered one of the strongest in America ; its 
fortifications had been five years building, and had cost 
the French five and a half millions of dollars. 

An armament of 4000 men from Massachusetts, New 
Hampshire and Connecticut under the command of Gen- 



1765 . WAR. 47 

eral Pepperell staled from Boston for the conquest of that 
place, attended by four ships of war, under Commodore 
Warren, from the West Indies. The troops arrived at 
Louisburg about the first of May, 1745, and commenced 
the siege. For fourteen nights successively the New 
England troops, knee deep in mud, manned and pushed 
forward their cannon through a swamp two miles in length, 
manifesting the most extraordinary valor and endurance, 
and assailed the garrison with so much fortitude antl brav- 
ery that on the 17th of June it surrendered. 

France, smarting with resentment against the Colo- 
nies, in the following summer sent a powerful fleet to lay 
■waste and ravage the coasts of New England, and to 
recover Louisburg. 

But an unconnnon succession of disasters, as if it were 
an interposition of Pro\-idence, attended the undertaking, 
and entirely defeated it. The French fleet was delayed 
and damaged by storms ; fevers prevailed among the 
troops, and some of the ships were lost. Such was the 
fortune of the expedition that two of the admirals, stung 
by disappointment and chagrin, committed suicide. 

In 1748, this war was ended l)y a treaty of peace at 
Aux-la-Chapelle, by which all prisoners on both sides 
were restored without ransom. 

Scarcely had the Colonies begun to reap the benefits 
of peace, when they were again thrown into troul)le by 
another war between England and France. 

This was commenced in 1754, though not formally 
declared nntil some time afterwards. Four expeditious 
were planned, one against the French in Nova Scotia, 
another against the Fj-ench on the Ohio, another against 
Crown Point, and a fourth against Niagara. 



48 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1765 

The expedition against Nova Scotia consisted of 3000 
troops from Massaclinsetts and New Hampshire, led by 
Generals Monckton and Winslow. These sailed from Bos- 
ton on May 20th, 1756, for the Bay of Fundy, where the}' 
were joined by three hnndred regular British troops. They 
then proceeded against Fort Beau-Sejoiu', which surren- 
dered to them after a siege of four days. Other Forts 
were taken, and Nova Scotia was entirely subdued. The 
expedition against Niagara was given to Governor Shir- 
ley, of Massachusetts, whose force was two thousand five 
hundred men. The war continued with varied success till 
the conquest of Qnebec, under General Wolfe, in Septem- 
ber, 1759, and the final reduction of Canada, in 1760. 
This event caused great and universal rejoicing in the 
Colonies, and was followed with public thanksgivings. 
The treat}' of peace was signed at Paris in 1763. 



1765 FIRST GRANTEES. 49 



BAR:N^ STEAD 



THE PROPRIETORS. 

Tlie charter of Barn stead, a copy of which is appended 
(marked A,) was granted to the Rev. Joseph Adams, of 
Newington, and others, by Lieutenant Governor Went- 
worth, on the 20th of May, 1727. Yet there was much 
delay in its settlement, made so by Indian hostilities. 
So that no lots were sold, nor permanent houses built 
prior to the year 17G5. 

The expense of surveying the lands had laid a tax on 
the lots, and as the titles purchased were in the hands of 
heirs, and in no w^ay remunerative, they were at ditferent 
times sold at auction, and mostly at nominal prices. 

The sales were made at Newington, and at Ports- 
mouth. At these sales Mr. Adams bought several lots 
in Barnstead ; aud about the same year, members of his 
church made extensive purchases within its limits. 
These investments eventually proved profitable to him 
and to them. 

Mr. Adams waf born at Braintree, Massachusetts, 
January 4, 1688 or 89, and was the eldest son of Joseph 
and Hannah (Bass) Adams. His lather was grandson of 
Rev. Henry Adams, of England, who came to this country 
with his family about 1630, and settled in Braintree (now 
Quincy). John Adams, second President of the United 
States, was the eldest son of John Adams, the next 

7 



50 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1 "65 

younger brother of Rev. Joseph Adam^. The said 
Joseph Adams graduated at Harvard College, in 1710. 
During his college course he kept school in Newiugton, 
N. H. ; and after taking his degree, he was invited by the 
people to become their minister. He accepted and Avas 
ordained in June, 1715. 

A written contract between him and his people upon 
the subject of his salary, &c., is on record at Newiugton. 
It may be of interest to our ministry of the present day 
and is appended, marked B. Under this contract Mr. 
Adams lived with his church and people sixty-eight years. 
He became the oldest pastor in New England, and died 
May 26th, 1783. 

THE FIRST SETTLERS. 

At the beginning of settlements in Barnstead, a few 
Indians would be seen now and then wandering in the 
forests, or loitering about their wigwams along the lakes, 
ponds and rivers. Previousl3- they had been more numer- 
ous. Dense forests, as from the beginning, covered the 
soil ; and the wilderness continued to be invested by the 
bear, tlie wild deer, the cariboo, the wolf, the wild-cat, 
and other wild animals, as well as by these remnant tribes. 
This part of New Hampshire had been, and loas, a thor- 
oughfare from the great lake to the shore towns, made so 
both by the French and Indians. As •against the unbri- 
dled encroachments of these savages the first English set- 
tlers had to arm themselves. Out of fear from their hos- 
tilities and depredations, the settlement of Barnstead had 
been delayed Irom its commencement nearly forty years. 
In 17C8 peace was declared, and the settlements then 
beoan to advance. Yet hostile invasions would some- 



1765 FIRST SETTLERS. 51 

times be made upon the settlements, whenever the Indian 
returned to his ancient corn-plat, or when he came to 
visit his long-loved Suncook, or to ramble once again 
through the halcyon hunting-grounds of his youth, then 
being disfigured and laid waste by the white man. About 
this time etlbrts began to be made to christianize them. 

Eliot, the apostle, came. He learned their language, 
and translated the Bible and New Testament into it. 
Visiting the ditterent tribes from place to place, he 
preached to them. Tiiey listened to him, but his etlbrts 
proved to be of but little avail. 

GooKiN also came. His residence was in Boston ; 
Eliot's in Roxbury. 

Cotton Mather, of Boston, the learned divine of that 
day, had much to do and nnich to say in his time of these 
sons of the forest. Discoursing on their origin he says : 

" We do not know when or how these Indians tirst 
came inhabitants of this mighty country. Yet we may 
guess that probably the Devil decoyed those mizerable 
salvages hither in hopes that the Gospel of the Lord 
Jesus would never come here to disturb his empire over 
them. But our Eliot was on such ill terms with the Devil 
as to alarm him with sounding the silver truvqjet of heaven 
in his territories, and make some noble and zealous 
attempts, ousting him of his ancient possessions here." 

the meeting-iiouse. 

It was a condition in the charter made to the proprie- 
tors in 1727, that there should be a house for public wor- 
ship built in town within the period of three years therein 
specified. Accordingly, about the year 1760, the Indian 
conflicts having subsided, Rev. Joseph Adams came from 



52 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1"*J9 

Newington to Barnstead, and selected a lot of land for 
the cbnrch. It was in a valley near a stream of water, 
about a mile north of Strafford line. Then, with his com- 
panions, he built the meeting-house of logs, and when it 
was finished he called together the rude hunters of the 
forest that were there wandering, and the wtn'kmen and 
the hunters, kneeling at the altar, constituted his audi- 
ence. He preached a sermon to them — sang hymns of 
praise — and then and there dedicated his new made meet- 
ing-house to the God of their fathers. 

PARADE MEETING-HOUSE. 

This was erected about the 3^ear 1788. It was the 
second in order of time, but the first framed church edifice 
in Barnstead. In size it was 40 liy 60, with posts 24 feet. 
It stood on the north side of the common, which had been 
dedicated to the public for church and other purposes by 
the liberalit}^ of P^li Bunker. Eli was a son of John 
Bunkev, and is ever to be remembered for his moral 
worth and benevolence. This meeting-house was not 
wholly linished until some time in the year 1799, when, 
by the voluntary contributions of the Parade people, 
in labor and otherwise, it was completed. It was 
neat, well proportioned, and its architectural design yvtxs 
in good taste. It had a porch at each end for an entrance 
and a stairway ; also a door in the centre of the house 
which fronted to the south. The body of the house on 
the outside was painted yellow ; the roof red. The pulpit 
stood opposite to the front door ; was high up, rather 
narrow, and had a large window in the rear. It had an 
octagon sounding-board a few feet above it. The purpose 
of a sounding-board was to give the language of the 



1800 PARADE MEETING-HOUSE. 53 

speaker a more impressive utterance. This sounding- 
board was lilie the pulpit, a clay color. The pews were 
panel finished, were square, with a railing, and had the 
capacity of seating twelve persons each. There were 
seats on three sides of the pew. They had a hinge joint, 
and were made to be turned up to make more space for 
standing iniime of prayer — for at that day, not to stand 
up In time of pra3er, would have been regarded in the 
house of God as unbecoming and almost nnpardonal>le. 
All stood erect, and at tlie close of each prayer down 
came the seats with a reverberation. The younger part 
of the audience usually suught to bring them down in a 
manner evincing a special interest in that work ; and for 
the space of half -a minute the noise of seats was not 
unlike the clatter of a windmill, or the swell of a hallelu- 
jah chorus. 

The site for this church was given l)y Eli Bunker, as 
we have previously stated. The deed runs as follows : 

" This may certify that I, the subscriber, promise to give 
Cliarle.s Hodgdon, Kufas Evans, Jonathan Young, and Joseph 
Bunker, a committee chosen by a body of men for the purpose 
of erecting a meeting-lioiise in the north part of Banistead, as 
committee men for said proprietors, a deed of a piece of land 
tor the use of said meeting-house, any time when said meeting- 
house is liiiilt, and a parade 27 rods by Dr. Jewett's, and running 
back from said road so far as 25 rods toward tlie river, 
which is to be left as a sciuare for said parade ; on whicli is not to 
be erected any building excepting for the use of said church, or 
meeting-house, any time when said committee shall demand it, 
which is to be free as their property so long as there is a meet- 
ing-house to stand there." 

As witness my hand, Barustead, May 1, 179G. 

Eli Bunker. 
Benjamin Nutter, 
Benjamin Hodgdon. 

Recorded, 1821. Enos George, Town Clerk. 



54 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1803 

The dedication of tliis cliurcli took place September 
16, 1799, and was attended by a large crowd. They had 
come long distances. Among the items of expenses as 
appears, the following named persons paid to Jeremiah 
Jewett the sums set against their names, " it being for 
the ministers and their attendance on that day." 

Richard Sinclair, for myself and Major John 

Nutter 3 shillings. 

Chai-les Ilodgdou > 3 " 

Rufus Evans 3 " 

Moses Rand 3 " 

Joseph Bunker 3 " 

Lemuel Bunker l-G " 

Enoch Bunker 1-G " 

Aaron Cheslej' 3 ' • 

James G. Carr 1-6 " 

John Bickford 1-0 

" The Selectmen of the Town to Jeremiah Jewett, Dr. 
For twelve dinners, four Ixnols of punch and three 
pints of rum, being for the ministers; also, din- 
ners for the singers, and horse keeping, and 

drinls .' $8.17 

Sept. IG, 1799. Rec'd pay. 

Jeremiah Jewett, Taverner." 

THIRD MEETING-HOUSE. 

This was called the Second Congregational Meeting- 
house. It was built in 1803.. It stood upon land pre- 
sented by Joseph Taslcer, Esq., and near his residence ; 
was boarded and shingled, but not finished. 

Tlie society who sustained its erection were actuated 
to some extent by a spirit of competition, claiming that 
its location was more central than that at the parade. 



1820 -THIRD MEETING-HOUSE. 55 

r>ut after the settlement of Rev. Enos George, at 
Banistead, the conflicting interests of its inhabitants 
rapidly diminished. 

This church structure continued unfinished up to the 
year 1820, and then it was removed and located at 
'' Winkley's Corner." Its removal was superintended by 
Col. John Bickford, and the building was drawn to its 
final location by a team of tivo hioulred oxen. John 
Peavey, Esq., took an active i)art, and expended much in 
this matter. 

The house was spacious — two story — windows al:)ove 
and below, with glass 7 by 9, and vvith seventy-two lights 
to the window. It had a high pulpit. The work was 
mostly completed, its outside, however, vvas never painted. 

To pay the expense of finishing and-furnishing it, and 
to raise funds to assist in the support of a preacher, they 
resorted to a public sale of the pews. 

At the auction there was a large assembly. The auc- 
tioneer opened the sale by announcing that he woidd 
dispose of the pews severally on the lower floor of the 
house /?"r.sf. And then from the deacon's desk, lio'.ding 
up a full bottle of braiirh/, he commenced by further an- 
nouncing to the crowd, taat each bid would entitle the 
bidder to a fresh drink. 

Accordingly all the i)ews were disposed of in a hurry, 
the centre ones first, then those under the galleries, 
(as the bidders waxed warm) at a great price, and so on 
until the whole were sold. Some of these pe«vs were sel- 
dom if ever occupied. 

The reader will doubtless note a marked difli'erence 
between the habits and fashions of that day, and the cus- 
toms of this our day of terapcn'ance pledges, church levees, 
missionary fairs, and Sabbath school gatherings. 



66 HISTORY OP BARNSTEAD. 1825 

When the house was dedicated the fathers and«nothers 
gathered themselves together and bowed with reverence and 
humility at its altar. Preaching was had here according 
to the denomination for which it was built, most of the 
time ; and yet, oftentimes, it was open on the Sabbath 
for any and all ministers who might be disposed to occu- 
py it. 

As time advanced it began to decay and at length 
became a monument of neglect. The small lights became 
targets for the boys, until the last one was seen, as if to 
sigh in its loneliness. 

In the 3'car 1848 this house was taken down and its 
timbers were turned to other uses. 

NORTH MEETING-HOUSE. 

This is a very neat, modern building, and was erected 
by the Congregational society of Barnstead in 1820, at the 
north part of the town, near the residence of Samuel G. 
Webster, Esq. It was repaired in 1853 ; has been kept 
in repair, and still remains an ornament to that locality. 

FREEVriLL UAPTIST MEETING-HOUSE. 

This is a very respectable edifice. It was built and 
has been generally occupied by the denomination from 
which it takes its name. It is kept in good repair, and is 
better for Christian use and service, than for great show, 
or for a specimen of architectural design. 

CENTRE MEETING-HOUSE. 

This house was erected in 1840. It is modern in its 
structure ; has a tower ; has been kept well repaired, and 
generally is well sustained. The first Congregational 



1803 



ITS FIRST MINISTER. 57 



church of Banistead at first had an interest in it, the 
Parade chnrch being a branch of tlie cluirch organization 
in this loealit}', tiicy more or less, for a considerable time, 
occupied it. But it is now snpplied for the most part by 
clergymen from other denominations. 

HIS OKDINATION AND FUNERAL. 

David Kisigwlton, a Freewill Baptist, was ordained in 
1803. Being the first settled minister, he therel)y would 
have been entitled to the lands allotted by the charter of 
Barnstead to its first settled minister. 

Bnt Knowlton, believing that pay for preaching ought 
not to lie exacted by ministers of the gospel, refused to 
claim the land by right of priority, and at or before his 
ordination, executed a release of all title acquired, or 
which he might acquire to said lands at his ordination or 
settlement in Barnstead as its first minister. 

Elder Knowlton was a son of the Rev. David Knowl- 
ton of Pittsfield. He was but twenty-seven years of age 
at his installation, and died about two years afterwards. 
His funeral was at Pittsfield. Rev. Benjamin Randall 
preached the sermon. Text: Num. xxiii : 10 : 

"Let ine die the death of the riirhteoiis, and let my last 
end be like his ! " 

Six ministers bore him to the grave. One of them 
supported the afHicted widow on the Avay, and nearly one 
thousand people attended them to the last resting place 
of the first settled minister of Barnstead. So died the 
good man, beloved and deplored. 

SETTLEMENT OF THE SECOND MINISTER. 

Record. "1801. Dec. U. The following committee 
was chosen to confer wdth the Rev. Mr. Balch respecting 



58 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1803 

a settlement : James Tasker, Riifus Ewers, Moses Rand, 
John Nutter, John Bunker, Joseph Bunker, David Drew, 
Doct. Jeremiah Jewett, James G. Canu, Benjamin Nutter, 
Stephen Dudley, Ebenezer Nutter, James Allard, John 
Bickford, Sen. 

Voted, The above committee confer with the Rev. 
Mr. Balch, and make a report at the adjournment of this 
meeting. 

Voted, To adjourn till the last Monday in October, at 
the westerly meeting-house. 

Sabil. Nelson, Town Clerk." 

REV. ENOS GEORGE. 

" 1803. Nov. 10. The town chose a committee to 
confer with Rev. Enos George respecting his settlement 
as a teacher. The following committee was chosen : 
Major John Nutter, Charles Hodgdon, Joseph Tasker, 
Esq., Lemuel Bunker, Stephen Jones, Rufus Ewers, Jere- 
miah Jewett." 

The committee reported favorable to the town. 

The town then voted $1000 settlement, and a sal- 
ary. This is on condition that said Rev. Enos George 
give to the town a quitclaim deed of the ministerial right 
in said town. However, the ministerial right or the 
$1000, is at his option ; provided the said George chooses 
the said right, it is his. But if the $1000 instead, all 
shall remain unpaid until the next meeting. If he is taken 
away by death, it shall be at his disposal ; or if continu- 
ing with us ten years it shall be his ; but if he leaves 
before the ten years, he shall refund as many hundred dol- 
lars as it lacks of the ten years. He is to preach in two 



1803 



KEV. ENOS GEORGE. 59 



meeting-houses, and some other phices, that shall be 
agreed upon by said town. Mr. George reserves three 
Sabbaths in the year. 

Charles Hodgdon, 

III hi'Iialf of the Committee of the Tnv^n." 

The installation of Rev. Enos George over the First 
Congregational Church in Barnstead, took place Sept. 20, 
1804. The season was pleasant, the day delightful. 
The sun shone upon the green foliage, and the silvery 
waters of the Suncook reflected the beautiful legacies left 
to hei- by the departed summer. The people far and near 
gave heed to the occasion, and the gates of the temple 
were crowded. 

The ordination sei-mon was by Rev. Stephen Hull of 
the First Church in Amesbury, Mass. Text : 2 Cor. 
v:10. The charge was b}^ Rev. John Kelly of Ham- 
stead. Right hand of fellowship, by Rev. J. Tucker of 
Loudon. Rev. Enos George read the 116th Psalm, sec- 
ond part, C. M. 

Mr. George had been invited to this pastorate by a 
unanimous vote ; and at his installation he became legall}^ 
entitled to the ministerial lands of the town, awarded in 
the original charter to its first settled minister. 

In his ministry he was influential and successful. 
His open social qualities entitled him to the respect and 
esteem of all, and led the way to his long life in useful- 
ness to the church of God and to the people of Barnstead. 
He had held meetings in various parts of the town during 
the winter previous to his ordination, and ever afterwards 
continued to preach alternately at the north, east and 
west houses, until^ by the infirmities of age, he was com- 
pelled to resign his charge, and leave the field to other 



60 HISTORY OF I5ARNSTEAD. 



181G 



laborers, Ilis undeviating- luithrulness and good manners 
during his ministry brought him many friends. Tlieir 
annual visits to him and to his household, and the boun- 
teous gifts which they from year to year awarded to him, 
will long be remembeix'd. The fame of Rev, Enos George 
as a man and a minister, will not be lost sight of in all 
the coming generations at IJarnstead, 

Aside from his ministerial duties, Mr, George found 
time to do great service, and to accomplish much for the 
community. From ilie year 1805 up to the year 1824, 
through the winter montlis, he served as a teacher of 
youth in the village school at the Parade ; ami there is 
many a man who proliteil by his wise teachings and 
admonitions, and who still lives to honor him and to 
cherish his memory. 

From the year 181(3 up to the year 1850, forty years, 
(and of course by forty annual elections), Mr. George 
performed the duties of Town Clerk, The town records 
of those long years, evini-ing his legal knowledge, his 
good penmansliip, and his faithfulness to duty, will con- 
stantly remain to him a monument of praise, 

Mr, George had much distinction as a public speaker. 
He had served as chaplain to the New Hampshire Legis- 
lature, In his address he was ready, prompt and 
elociuent ; as an elocutionist he always made the 
most of whatever he undertook to read. In form Mr. 
George was perfect ; his height about 5 feet 10 inches ; 
his weight about 150 pounds ; his complexion sandy ; his 
hair almost red, worn long, combed back, and nearly 
erect ; it faded but little in old age. His dress Avas 
usually of the finest black, neat long coat, hat rather 
wide brimed. His a[)parel in early days, was a dress- 




f -^ 



S.- 




1824 ITS CLERGYMEN. 61 

coat, after the fashion of those times. old-fashio)ied 
breeches, long boots, with red tops, and with tassels 
swinging in front ; a wliite cravat tied in a bow. He 
always wore a donble-ringed watch chain, which held a 
ke3% set witli a fine cornelian stone, red and beautiful, and 
a large gold seal. In snauner he was often seen having 
on a long calico gown tied in a knot behind ; and if not 
in his study, might generall}' be found in his garden, in 
which he took great delight, busily at work. 

Rev. Knos George was the son of Enos George, and 
grandson of Miah George. Mis more remote ancestor 
was Fi'ancis George, who came from the south of Eng- 
land about IGSO. The R;n'. Enos was born June 2d, 
1781. His mother was Dorothy, I he daughter of Barnes 
Jewell, an Englishman. 

In 1801, July 10, Miss Sophia Chesley, a lad}' of much 
merit, became his partner in marriage. She was the 
daughter of Jonathan Chesley, of Barnstead, previously 
of Durham, N. II. Her life was domestic, 3'.et full of 
benevolence and kindness. She died February 13, 1858, 
at the age of 76. Very soon afterwards, October 2'Jth, 
185'J, at the age of 78 years, Mr. George died. He left 
the world as he had lived, in the triumph and belief of a 
glorious immortality'. Their remains rest l)ut a few rods 
easterly of the Parade churcli, in which he had so often 
and so eloquentl}' preaclicd the Gospel to the people of 
Barnstead. His many friends, with becoming generosity, 
have erected a monument to his memory. 

JIINISTERS. 

Among the Clergymen who, at the early part of the 
present centur^^ had occasionally preached in Barnstead, 
other than Joseph Adams, Knowlton, and George, may 



62 HISTORY OF BARXSTKAL). 1S5G 

be mentioned the Rev. William Balch, from 1784 to 1801, 
llev. Joseph Buckminster, Rev. Joseph Haven, Rev. 
William Parsons, Rev. Peletiah Tingley, and others, 
also occasionally. 

Elder Nathaniel Wilson, a Freewill Baptist, was 
ordained here in 1805 ; resided in the first framed house 
ever erected in Barnstead ; preached 35 years, and died 
in 18.43. His wife was Fanny Proctor, of Loudon. Thoir 
children were Fanny, afterwards the wife of Elder Wil- 
liam Demeritt, of Durham ; Samuel, who emigrated to 
the west among its first settlex's ; and Pantliea, who mar- 
ried James Woodhouse. Panthea, with her liusband, 
continued to reside at tlie old homestead, and sent out 
nine sons and daughters, eight of whom were teachers, 
and among whom was Betsey T., wife of the late Captain 
Henry Savage, of Alton, who fell among many others at 
the terrible battle of Chancellorville. Mrs. Savage now 
resides in Boston. 

The following Clergymen were cotemporaries with 
Enos George as occasional laborers, and are entitled, at 
least, to a brief notice : 

Rev. E. H. Caswell, a Congregationalist ; he gradu- 
ated at Middlebury College in 1844, and from the Theo- 
logical Seminary, at Andover, Massachusetts, in 1847, 
and preached in Barnstead in the years 1853 and 1854. 

Rev. Thomas Goodwin preached here in the years 
1855 and 1856, and about that time perhaps some others. 

Rev. William O. Carr, a Congregationalist, was a 
native of Deny, New Hampshire, was a graduate of 
Dartmouth College, and from the Andover Seminaiy. Mr. 
Carr was settled over the Parade church in 1861, and still 
remains in the same field of labor, much respected and 



18(51 ITS CLERGYMEN, 63 

much beloved. He was ordained at Centre Barnstead, 
February 13, 1861, and by this ordination he then became 
the acting Pastor of its Congregational churches. 
The ordination services were as follows : 

SERMON, 

By the Rev. Joshua S. Gaj', of Chichester. 

ORDAINING PRAYER AND RIGHT HAND OE FELLOWSHIP, 

By the Rev. Luther Towuseiid, of Loudou. 

CHARGE TO THE CANDIDATE, AND ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE, 

By the Rev. J. A. Hood, of Pittsfleld. 

Rev. Amos Blanchard, of Lowell, was to have preach- 
ed the ordination sermon, but his attendance, as well as 
the presence of some other clergymen, was prevented by 
an intervening snow-storm. 

Of late, the west, the centre, and north parts of the 
Town have made separate and distinct organizations for 
the support of public worship, and generally each church, 
for the most part of the time, is supplied with a Pastor. 

Elder Hecter Caufield has had the care of the 
church at the Centre, at least, for a considerable portion 
of the time since 1866. 

The North church has been supplied from its early 
date by Ministers, as follows : by Elder Peletiah Ting- 
ley, a Freewill Baptist, in 1777, and since then. Elder 
David Moulton, jr., in 1803— he died in 1809 ; Elder John 
Buzzell ; Elder Joseph Boody, sr. ; Elder John Caverly ; 
Elder Nathaniel Wilson ; Elder David Garland, and Elder 
Haskell. 

Elder Jonathan Nelson, a Freewill Baptist, born in 
Barnstead in 1785, ordained here in 1823, preached 
mostly in Vermont. 



64 HISTORY OF BAKXSTEAD. 1863 

Elder Samukl Lord, a son of William, boni in Barn- 
stead in 17.S0. ordained in 1820, died in 1849 ; resided 
mostly in Vermont. 

Elder Daniel jMoultox, a native of Pittsfiold, b. in 
1780, ordained in 1803, died in 1805. 

Elder .John C'ayerly, of Stratford, i). in 178'J, onlained 
in 1827, died in LSO-'i, often preached here. 

Elder David L. Edgerlv, a Freewill Baptist, preach- 
ed at the Parade and at Clarktown, al)out 18G0. 

Elder Moses A. Quimisy, a Ereewill l^aptist, from 
Epsom, preached occasionally at the Centre House. 

Elder Joskpii IIaryey, an Adventist, from Pittsfield, 
has of late preached in North Barnstead. 

Rev. J. Blakk, a Congregationalist, ordained in 1838, 
contimied here more or less up to 18G1. 

Rev. A. W. EiSKK, a Congrcgationalist, from Fisher- 
ville, preached at the Centre and at North Barnstead one 
year, np to 18G7. 

METHODISTS. 

Elder F^benezer Gerry, and Folder Thomas Tread- 
well, Methodists, have each in turn preached in the 
Northwest part of Barnstead, bnt as late as 1870 they 
had no church edifice. 

adventists. 

This people have a church edifice in what is commonl}- 
called the Proctor neighborhood. Rev. William Bodge 
has been their minister. 

attending church. 

In the olden time, on the Salibath morning in summer, 
the roads and cross-paths of the town became dottetl with 



1863 ITS SABBATH DAYS. 65 

pedestrians. The economical fasliions of that day ought 
not to be forgotten. Among others we well remember the 
following : before arriving at the church each lady would 
exchange her thick shoe for a more comely one, while the 
cast-offs would be consigned to some old log fence, or 
other safe place, until her return. This hal)it has been 
described thus : 



" Then when the week hath turned its toil away, 
How mild and silent is the Sabbath day I 
The modest maiden churchward as she goes, 
Proud in good looks, and go-to-meeting clothes. 
Across the glen, untouched of dust or dews, 
Bears in her hand her nice embroidered slioes ; 
Her stockings, too, home-knit, of purest white, 
Now, near the temple, pulls them on aright; 
Then in the precinct of that holy place. 
Where loud the Parson, grave, dispenses grace, 
Shines forth a beauty flounced ; there seated down 
The belle of all the beauties in Barnstead Town." 

[Caverly.] 



The wants of the inhabitants were few, and well 
supplied ; they neither desired nor sought the luxuries 
of life, nor the wasteful frivolities or follies of the cities. 
The stillness of the Holy Sabbath came and went without 
ought to break its quietude ; no bell sent its booming 
swells through the old forests, as if to start the wild deer 
from his coy retreat, nor to toll the church-going inhabi- 
tants to the sacred -eltar. Who, of that day, does not 
love the church of his childhoood — the greetings of men 
and womeu from afar, their kindnesses, their sweet saluta- 
tions and smiles, while they gathered to the gates of the 
sacred sanctuaiy? At this date the recollection of the 
Sabbath scenes are still vivid to the memories of many. 



66 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 18C3 

How quaint to be seen, the two coming togetlier, 
On the steady old nag, enjoying one mind. 
Unheeding the pathway, tlie wind or tlie weather; 
While closely she sticks to the pillion behind. 

It was with slow and quiet tread that the entrance 
to the sanctuary was approached. All were well dress- 
ed in good home-made cloth ; the men were circum- 
spect, the boys strong, and the girls were florid with 
the bloom of health and beauty. The Deacons had 
seats near the communion table, and there from Sab- 
bath to Sabbath, constantly on duty. Deacons Nutter 
and Hodgdon officiated for many years. The aged and 
wealthy were seated on the broad aisle, and there you 
would find Captain Eliphalet Nutter, Eli Bunker, Charles 
Hodgdon, Benjamin Hodgdon, Aaron Chesle}^, Abraham 
Bunker, and others of an equal grade. The boys and 
people of less mejins took accommodations in the gal- 
leries. The tythingman was held to a strict account. 
It was within his province to keep good order ; under his 
orders, no dog was permitted to rove in the aisles, the 
canine race being held to prompt obedience within the pews 
of their masters. The church service was from the hours 
of ten to twelve o'clock, and in the afternoon from one to 
three. This Parade meeting-house for the first thir- 
ty years of its existence had in winter no warming 
apparatus other than a common foot-stove ; the fires in it 
were usually started by a brand from the fireplace of a near 
neighbor. The hours of intermission were spent in the 
neighboring houses, in social chat, at which all the news 
of the week would be well learnt ; and the guests while 
resting at the recess would usually be treated to apples, 
pies or doughnuts, as the convenience of the family sup- 



1863 RELIGION. 67 

plies would warraut, until at the stated hour of service 
all were again in their places. Such were the habits 
of our Fathers in fulfilling the duties of a New England 
Sabbath. 

AN INCIDENT. 

It happened one day Avhen the congregation was still, 
listening to the last sentences of the sermon, as we well 
remember, a small boy alarmed us by getting his head 
caught between two ballusters at the top of a pew. All 
eyes were at once turned to the scene of commotion ; the 
preacher could not be heard ; the hearers arose to learn 
the cause of the uproar ; the minster stopped and stood 
mute ; the tythingmau and others advanced to the rescue. 
The boy had pushed his head between the banisters, 
and to his surprise, the same power which crowded 
his head in there would not force it out again, and he 
roared most lustily ; the mother coaxed him ; the tything- 
mau scolded ; but all to no purpose. It seemed that the 
banisters were even uearer together than when his head 
first went in ; at length, by a few cuts with a jack-knife, 
the boy's head was disengaged, the outcry abated, and 
quietude was restored to a troubled people. 

THE FREEWILL BAPTISTS. 

As Barnstead was near the great head and origin of 
this religious order, it may not be inappropriate in this 
connection, to speak of the principal men connected 
with it, who had preached more or less in this town, and 
who were the leaders in laying a foundation for this now 
prosperous and influential denomination of Christians. 



&8 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1803 

Benjamin Randall, its originator, was an advocate in 
behalf of the doctrines of a general atonement, condi- 
tional election, free communion, and a voluntary support 
of the ministry. With these characteristic principles, he 
founded a denomination upon the apostles and prophets, 
Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone. 

The first church of the order was organized at New 
Durham, N. H,, June 30, 1780. It consisted of seven 
members. Their names were as follows : Benjamin Ran- 
dall, Robert Boody, Nathaniel Buzzell, Joseph Boody, 
Judith Cartell, Margaret Boody, and Mary Buzzell. 

From this beginning in 1780, the denomination now 
(1868) numbers 127G churches, and 1221 ordained minis- 
ters, and about 59,211 communicants. 

Its founder, Benjamin Randall, was born at Ports- 
mouth, N. H., Feb. 7, 1749. His education was from 
the common schools. At the age of twenty-one he was 
awakened at the preaching of George Whitfield, and met 
with a change in a few days afterwards by hearing of the 
death of that celebrated divine. Whitfield died Sept. 30, 
1770, at Newburyport. 

Randall finally settled in New Durham, where he con- 
tinued to reside during the most part of his thirty years 
of ministerial labors. His free and open doctrines to a 
considerable extent, were favoral)ly received in New Dur- 
ham, Barrington, and Barnstead, and adjoining towns, — 
whenever and wherever Randall and his preachers from 
time to time held forth. 

Randall died at New Durham, of consumption, Octo- 
ber 22, 1808, aged 59 years. The funeral services were 
on the 26th. The sermon was by Elder John Buzzell. 
Text, Timothy iv : 7-8 : 

"I have fousht a ffood fielit." 



1863 RELIGION. 69 

Several ministers were present. Six of tlie oldest 
bore liim to liis final rest. It is said the assembly of 
people was such as had nevei- Ijefore been seen at a funer- 
al, in that part of the coiiutry ; and that the scene was 
solemn and impressive. 

After the lapse of flfl^y years, and after most of his 
co-laborers " had gone hence,"' the connection, in its 
appreciation of his heroic an*.! saintly labors, erected to 
his memory a monuuient of marble. 

Joseph Bood_y, above mentioned, was Joseph, senior, 
who, after aiding Randall in the formation of the first 
church, and in the taking of the preliminary steps towards 
the organization of theii' then new denomination, settled 
in the north part of Barrington (now Strattbrd), adjoining 
Barnstead, and there, and in the neighboring towns, 
preached for over thirty years. His tall person, dignified 
appearance, and heav}^ voice, were prepossessing ; his 
great wit, severe sarcasm, and peerless independence, 
rendered him a successful antagonist as well as orator. 
Though he was not without his faults, he did much during 
his ministry as a co-worker witli Randall in laying the 
foundatiou for that denomination of Christians which 
the}' had originated, and which is now becoming widely 
extensive, influential, and prosi)erous. He was born in 
Barrington, May 16, 1752, and died at his residence in 
Straftbrd, January 17, 1824, aged 72 years. 

FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCHES. 

This denomination soon became somewhat numerous 
in Barnstead, yet more so in Barrington, Pittsfield, Gil- 
manton, and New Durham. As they increased, churches 



70 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

were formed and preaching was had " without money and 
without price." They relied more on Bible doctrines and 
puritan principles, than upon rigid rules or creeds in a 
church government. 

Up to the year 1804, they had scarcely been recog- 
nized as a Christian denomination. At that time their 
burden of taxation was changed by the Legislature of 
New Hampshire, and tbey thereby became a distinct sect 
among the denominations of New England. 

As at first they had no meeting-houses, they were con- 
stantly subjected to great inconveniences, such as at the 
present day are entirelj^ unknown. For the want of 
churches, dwelUng-hoiises, barns, orchards, and groves, 
were often made to take the place of them. The rations 
of a soldier, to them at their " yearly meetings," and 
" quarterly conferences," were regarded as ample fare, 
with which all were satisfied. Beds were provided for 
the aged or feeble, while others found contentment and 
rest without convenient couch or covering. 

An eye witness says : " At a quarterly meeting at 
Pittsfield in 1802, Elder Knowlton filled every bed in his 
house, and then twenty of us lay on the floor, and as 
many more slept in the barn." 

In 1816 there was a great revival among them. Tliis 
was a cold, dreary year. Business was dull, the crops 
were light, and in many places proved a failure. Yet 
thej^ did not seem to see it. Their revival advanced, and 
the extension of their churches seemed to inspire them to 
faithfulness and to prosperit}'. 

In 1819 the yearly meeting at New Durham is said to 
have been one of many blessings. About that time a 
cloud of mercy visited Barnstead, Gilmanton and Pitts- 



1863 LAND SALES. 71 

field — all sharing it — which soon Ijccame more and more 
manifest, extending far and wide. 

There were two cases of death by spotted fever in 
Barnstead that yeav. 



LAND SALES. 



■ Having previonsly recorded a brief account of the 
building of the first meeting-house and of other churches, 
as well as of the ministiy who have hitherto preached in 
Barnstead, we now return to its early land sales. These 
lands were for a considerable time held by its original 
proprietors, yet at an early day many of the lots had 
been disposed of to others ; and that too, before any 
general survey of the town had been made. Thus selling 
and re-selling went on up to the period when a general 
survey was had, at which time the ranges were defined, 
and each man's land was allotted to him. The farms 
were laid out, some of them sixty aci"es, and others one 
hundred acres ; space for a range-road was left between 
every tier of lots. Homesteads adjoining Pittsfield were 
purchased first ; most of these were obtained of the 
Adams's, who had bought them at the auction sales. The 
town generally was well timbered with a heavy growth 
of pine, oak, maple, beech, birch, hemlock and spruce ; 
yet out of this timber the old charter excepted and reserv- 
ed to the Crown, " all mast-trees growing on said tract of 
land" " for the better order, rule and government of said 
Town." 



72 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1S63 

The first record of au}^ sale, after the survey of the 
town, is in the Kockingham Registiy ; this lot was bought 
in 16G7 by Benjamin Nutter of Newington, of Hatevil 
Nutter of the same phice. It is now a farm, situated on 
the rise of ground south of the Parade, containing one 
hundred acres. The lot numbered tliirtjxseven, was 
purchased as being on the Province road, and was after- 
wards occupied ]jy Benjamin Nutter until his death. 
Nathaniel Nutter was his son. This farm is now owned 
and occupied as a liomestead by Charles S. George, 
Esquire. 

On September 17, 1772, Richard Downing, Esquire, 
sold to Benjamin Colebatii, of Barustead, several pieces 
of land as appears, " in consMeration of one hundred and 
forty -five pounds lawful money to us in hand from the 
said Colebath." These lands were mostly on the Province 
road, uuml)ered fj, 5, 4 and 3, and were sold generally 
for the payment of the proprietor's del)ts. 

In 1772, Benjamin Colebath, of Durham, bought of 
Mark Hunking Wentworth lot numbered 4 in the first 
division of lots. 

In the same year, Winthrop Smart bought of Rev. 
Joseph Adams sixty acres of land in the same first divi- 
sion of lots. This deed was given at Newington, and 
was witnessed bj^ Benjamin Adams, James Adams and 
Caleb G. Adams. This same lot was originally owned 
by Mark Aj'ers, having been bought at public vendue. 

John Tasker, September 17, 1772, at Newington, 
purchased several lots of land of the proprietor's committee. 
A record of these deeds is in the Dover Registry. Tlie 
lands sold generally at the price of about £17 per lot, 
lawful money. 



1863 



FIRST FAMILIES 



73 



" John Nutter, the 4tli blacksmith of ye Province of 
New Hampshire, bought of Matathias Nutter, of Newing- 
ton, at 20 £, two lots of one hundred acres each, being in 
the first and second division of lots." 

NAMES OF FIRST PROPRIETORS. 

Many of the names of the prirae\al settlers are still 
familiar, yet there were some whose names are scarcel^y 
known in these da3's, evincing the fact that in tlic absence 
of a written history, five generations may pass, leaving 
the fifth with little or no knowledge of the third. Our 
only record from which to call up those lost families in 
our native town is in the imperfect memories of our ven- 
erable inhabitants, and who are last vanishing awa3\ By 
these facts we are admonished to diligence in preserving 
the facts material to the histoiy of our fathers, and in 
striving to save from oblivion at least a part of what we 
have constantl}^ been loosing. The following are the sur- 
names of settlers from 17G8 to 17'JO : 



Adams. 


Ciiiclair, 


Evans. 


Ayers, 


Clark, 


Garland, 


Avery, 


Caswell, 


Green, 


Bimker, 


Colebath, 


Hodgdon 


Blake, 


Dennett, 


Huckins, 


Bachelder, 


Dudley, 


Hayes, 


Berry, 


Daniels, 


Hill, 


Browu, 


Dockbam. 


Hatch, 


Babb, 


Davis, 


Jacobs, 


Bickford, 


Drew, 


Kaime, 


Chesley, 


Edgerly, 


Lougee, 


Collins. 


Elliott, 


Locke. 



74 



HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 



1863 



Lord, 


Parshley, 


Tibhetts, 


Muncy, 


Pendergast, 


Seward, 


Muclgett, 


Place, 


Ures, 


Mason, 


Pitman, 


Williams, 


Nelson, 


Shackford, 


Walker, 


Nutter, 


Tasker, 


Wiggiu. 


Pickering, 


Tuttle, 





FIRST SETTLERS. 



Ebenezer Adams was the first person who with a 
family settled in Barnstead ; lie removed here from New- 
iugtou aud located himself on a lot near the north line 
of Barrington, and near the log cabin, which had been 
dedicated by his father as the first meeting-house in this 
then wilderness. 



Colonel Richard Cinclair came from Newington and 
established himself upon a lot of land where Elder Na- 
thaniel Wilson afterwards lived and died ; it was about 
six miles from the log church. Cinclair was the second 
settler. A story is often told here, that Mrs. Cinclair, in 
the absence of her husband, wearing snow-shoes, brought 
hay from Newington to Barnstead, (thirty miles) on a 
hand-sled, with which to feed and preserve the life of her 
cow. It has also been stated that this same lady, at one 
time on her way home from abroad, among the trees 
encountered a deer, drove him into the deep snow, and 
killing him with her jack-knife, took him home. 



1863 FIRST FAMILIES. 75 

Such New England mothers are not common in these 
our days. 

James Dealing was our third settler ; he located 
himself in the wilderness ; his mansion was according to 
the fashions, a log house ; it stood where Arthur Bickford 
now lives. Adams, Ciaclair, and Dealing, all came from 
Newington, had families, and were the first settlers of the 
forest. 

They usually felled the trees in a lot large enough for 
a small field, burned the ground over, and then planted it 
to corn. Dealing, at one time, had a corn field near his 
house, Avhich had been invaded by the bears, and having 
business at Newington, some thirty miles away, he tied 
his dog in his field to frighten them away. This scheme 
worked vvell enough at first, but the master was de- 
tained too long from home, and the dog starved. 

Tradition does not tell us whether the bears starved 
or not. They probaljly inherited the corn at the decease 
of the dog. 

John Bickford commenced a residence here in 17C5. 
He owned the Dealing farm, employed workmen, and being- 
lame, used to superintend it on horseback. He was 
from Newington, and on the way to Barnstead, his son, 
John, (afterwards Colonel,) then eight years old, drove 
the team, but rode all the way " on the tongue of the 
sled " for fear of the bears. 

FIRST TOWN MEETING. 

The first meeting of the town as a corporation was 
held here, at John Bickford's. He died in 1804. 



76 HISTORY OV BAUXSTEAD. 



1863 



Afterwards the son, Colonel John Bkkford, took the 
location where the house of Charles Ilodgdon, Jr., stood, 
and where Mr. Clark's house now stands. He built the 
Hodgdon house ; and then removed to the Old Lyford 
house at the Dennett Place, now occupied by Arthur 
Bickford, where he contiimed to reside up to 1815, at which 
time he removed to the Captain John Chesley farm ; and 
thence to Cinclair's Mills, rebuilt them, and resided there 
until his decease in 1851. 

Colonel Bickford lived to the age of 85 years. He left 
two sons, Arthur and Daniel, both having families, and 
both residing in Barnstead. The Colonel was industri- 
ous, was generous, lived respected, and died much 
lamented. 

Arthur Bickford, his son, still resides on the old 
farm. *• 

In a letter he says : " When mj' father lived on the old 
Chesley Place he lost a sheep, killed by some wild beast. 
Not knowing what it was, I procured a trap and set it be- 
side the carcass. One day I went for the trap and it was 
not there. I followed the trap for a considerable distance 
through the woods, among the uprooted trees ; heard the 
rattle of the chain, aud saw the animal, such as I had 
never seen before. I procured a cudgel, and the animal 
'showed fight.' I had to keep at a proper distance, 
away, outside the upturned roots ; but sometimes got 
near enough to give her ' a side-winder.' After a long 
fight I ' fetched her,' and took her to the house. It was 
there decided to l)e a wild cat, a Siberian lynx. I set my 
trap again, and in a few days caught another ; and in a 
few days more I caught another. There was a bounty on 



18G3 



FIRST FAMILIES. 77 



them, — three dollars each. The pelts brought a dollar 
apiece. B^- this time you'd better think, I felt pretty well. 
Here ends my wild-cat stoiy." 

Farms near to the " Great Road," then being built, in 
the south part of the town, were regarded and sought for 
by the first settlers as most desirable of any. The set- 
tlers of them, for the most part, were active business 
men, and all well worthy, at least, of a brief place in this 
work. 

Charles Hodgdon, Esquire, Sen., was from Newing- 
ton ; and settled on the Province Road in 17G8. His 
was the first two-story, well-finished house. It stood on 
the south side of the road, nearly opposite the house 
since built by his son. He was a deacon of the church, 
a Justice of the Peace, and f©r several years a member 
of the Convention. The first chaise used in town was 
owned by him ; it had a square, standing top, lined with 
English calico. Charles, Senior, had two sons, Benjamin 
and Charles, both of whom, in their day, were prominent 
men; he died in 1815, much lamented, — aged seventy- 
five. 

Jonx Elliott lived in the north ; he settled here 
about the j^ear 1774. He was a man of much endurance. 
Tradition says he bought his corn at Durham ; that at 
one time he brought a bushel of it home upon his shoul- 
ders, some twenty-five miles ; that he had to ford the 
Branch river (Suncook). But the river had swollen so 
that he could not cross it, he however staid all night in the 
woods, not far from his own house ; but the storm abated, 



78 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

in the morning he forded the river and arrived home 
with his corn, — there in sweet contentment to enjoy 
it. 

Major John Nutter settled here in 17G8. He was 
from Newington ; was a descendant of Anthony Nntter 
of Dover (1GG2), and who was a conncillor in 1G82. 
Hatevil Nutter, one of his ancestors, was an inhabitant 
of Dover in 1G69. 

Major John was an officer in the Revohition, and filled 
many prominent offices in town, such as Moderator, Se- 
lectman, and the like. He was gentlemanly in manner 
and was a ready speaker ; he took pride in the military, 
and was an efficient officer. He died at the age of eighty 
years upon his original homestead, leaving a large family. 
Samuel Kaine, Esquire, married his daughter. 

Joseph Bunker, in 1770, took for his homestead a 
lot on the Range, about half a mile on the north-east of 
the parade ; it contained a heaA\y growth of pine and oak 
timber. He was from Dover ; his son, Joseph, inherited 
the place, and after the decease of Joseph, Jr., Enoch, 
tlie grandson, inherited it. 

Enoch was a Free-will Baptist ; for many years meet- 
ings were held at his house. He removed to the State of 
Maine ; was a deacon of the church ; was a good man, 
and did much for his favorite denomination. 

Joseph, Jr., lived eighty years and upwards. His 
mother, Aunt Sarah as she was called, died in 1815, aged 
105 years. Joseph, her son, at the age of eighty, as it is 
said, was addressed by his minister reminding him of the 



1863 FIRST FAMILIES. 79 

uncertainty of life ; " God bless you," said Joseph, 
" me die ? my old mother is living- 3'et ! " 

Moses Dennett's homestead was on the high ground 
on the Province Road, towards Gilmanton ; he came 
from Portsmouth about the 3'ear 1769, was by trade a 
tailor. His house was of logs and stood upon the spot 
now occupied by his descendants. Mr. Dennett for a 
considerable time brought his provisions from Dover on 
horse-back, following the spotted trees. His house stood 
in the deep, dark woods, and in his absence he usually 
left a small boy with his wife. At one time the boy be- 
coming tired of a secluded life, deserted the house and 
went to his home in Dover, leaving the wife for several 
days and nights alone in her cabin, to, be entertained by 
the voices of howling wolves and the bleak storms of 
winter. Mr. Dennett had an excellent farm ; it has 
descended to the fourth generation, who are still living 
there. 

John Bunker, the miller, settled in Barnstead in 
17G9. His ancestors wore from Maiden; he came from 
Durham, N. H., had five sons and two daughters. His 
land extended from Dodavah Bunker's hill (since Pitts- 
field), following the first range, taking in all the land on 
the east side of the river, to, and beyond the Province 
Road, including the mill privilege and land on the north 
side of the river, and including the lands where the Pa- 
rade Village stands. 

Mr. Bunker built his house on the high ground now 
owned by Dr. John Wheeler ; traces of the old cellar are 
still there. He built the first mill ; its timbers are of oak. 



80 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

large and strong. Mr. Bunker was nuicli respected, had 
served as Town Clerk, Moderator, and Selectman, and 
lived to the age of fonr-score years ; his widow, then sur- 
viving him, lived to the extreme old age of ninety-five. 

P]li Bunker. The mantle of John fell on Eli, and 
Eli inherited the mill, being the eldest son. They were 
all industrious business men, all had families ; Eli carried 
on the mill business, was inventive, was always seeking 
improvements, and was wealthy and generous. 

He was emphatically a man of inventions ; he erected 
a mill on dry ground, sui)posing he could make it operate 
b}'^ the power of weights, and without steam, wind, or 
water. His greatest fear was not that his mill would not 
go, but that he might not be able to stop it after it had 
started to go. 

The mill at length was finished, but being on high 
ground it would not budge an inch. The grain was 
pnt into the hopper, but no meal wonld come out ; yet 
after a while he added horse power to it, and it oi)erated 
very well. This mill for half a century at least stood 
there, under the appellation of Eli's perpetual motion. 

He had a large family. The male descendants of 
John and Eli have all left town, or have died ; P^li lived 
to the age of eighty years. His two youngest sons, by 
an Act of the Legislature, took the name " Bauchor." 

Two of his grandsons are in Boston, viz :. 

John F. Banciior, Esquire, who resides at No. "50 East 
Springfield street, is a gentleman in extensive trade, and 
has done much to encourage the publication of the annals 
of Banistead. 



1863 FIRST FAMILIES. 81 

George S. Banciior, who resides at No. 23 High 
street, is also a, merchant in a prosperous business, 
evincing most clearly, at least in this instance, that 
the spirit of enterprise Avliich inspired the forefixthers is 
not lost in the sons, nor bleached out b_y the years of 
many generations. The original settlers from whom they 
descended were Joseph, John, Dodapher, and Jonathan. 
They were from Dover, and we think all of them are 
from the same stock. 

As early as 1034 there was one l)y that name at IMal- 
den ; he was there in 1037, and died in 1038. Benjamin, 
the son of George, had a son who graduated at Harvard 
in 1038 and died in 1070. His brother John died at Mai- 
den in 1072 ; a descendant by tlie name of William is 
now a resident in Lowell. They are usually men of tem- 
perate habits, health}', well-proportioned, size large, aver- 
aging about two hundred pounds, and generally have 
lived to a profitable old age. 

Jacob Pickering resided on the elevated land about 
one mile north of the Parade ; he was a good f-irmer, 
reared a large family ; many of his descendants were busi- 
ness men, l)ut like many others have left the town of 
their cliildhood, and have sought business and located 
their homes elsewhere. This family probably originated 
from John Pickering, a carpenter, who came to New Eng- 
land in 1030, who lived in Ipswich in 1034, and after- 
wards in Salem. 

John Peavey, Esquire, early settled at Barnstead Cen- 
tre, purchased Tasker's Mills and lands adjoining. He 



82 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

enlarged the mills, sold land, and greatly faeilitated busi- 
ness in bis neigbborbood. His native place was Bar- 
rington ; in beigbt he was six feet four inches, was well- 
proportioned, kept a pul)lic house and a store of goods in 
connection with his mill-business. He was ever active in 
town affairs, — represented it in General Court, and 
served often as a selectman, and moderator. In Jackson's 
time be was the bearer of the Presidential vote of New 
Hampshire to Washington, was a Captain in the Militia, 
and was active in aid of tlie government in the war of 
1812. He died at the age of eighty years, leaving one 
daughter to inherit the homestead ; she is the wife of Mr. 
Daniel Bickford. 

ISAAC GARLAND. 

He early settled at North Barnstead ; was the son of 
John Garland of Dover. He built a log cabin here, 
and lived in it many years ; it had neither door, 
window, glass, nor chimney. He lived a long life 
in this locauty, and died here at the age of ninety. His 
years of marriage were seventy-two ; his wife died at the 
age of eighty-seven. They had six sons and three 
daughters. In his last years Mr. Garland was blind, yet 
always patient and cheerful. He was a reader, and some- 
times a writer of poetr3\ The following is from the pen 
of his old age, written on his birthday : — 

"My years now number eighty-four, 

How can I ask the Lord for more? 
I'll lay my head upon His breast, — 
How peaceful there 'twill be to rest ! ' 

The following items of charge were taken from his ac- 



18G3 FIRST FAMILIES. 83 

count book of fifty years ago, evincing tlie prices current 
of that (lay : — 

One day's work, liaying $0.50 Making pair of boots $1.50 

Maid, one week .50 One busliel of wlieat 1 50 

One 4 weeks old pig .50 One busliel of corn 100 

Use of horse .50 One busliel rye .75 

Use of wagon, 15 miles .50 One busliel flax seed 1.00 

Making a plow .50 One busliel barley .75 

Wood for same .50 One ,1/ good boards 5 50 

Making pair shoes .50 One .1/good shingles 2.00 
One cord hemlock wood $'2.50 



Seventy-five years ago the wild boar had not disap- 
peared in tliis locality, and the settlers sometimes used to 
set guns for thera in their corn-fields. In doing this, a 
long line was attached to tlie gun, at one end, and fastened 
at the other ; and tlic liear was invited to shoot himself 
iu crossing it. 

At one time, in Mr. Garland's absence from home, a 
neighbor had set a gun in his cornfield; on his return, 
in the evening, Mr. Garland, not knowing what had been 
done, went out to visit his corn, and feeling vigorous 
started upon the run, — the line caught liis shoe-buckle, 
the gun discharged itself wdth a loud report and the balls 
went whistling into a log close beliind hiui. Mr. Gar- 
land's vigorous movement, as he thought, preserved his 
life, as by the favor of an over-ruling Providence iu whom 
be believed and had ever trusted. 

Richard Garland was a son of Isaac, lived in P^ast 
Barnstead, and was a most useful and exemplary citizen. 
He was a thorough English scholar, a teacher of schools 
at least for a quarter of a century, and an excellent farmer. 



84 ■ HISTORY OF BAKNSTEAI). 18CS 

At the age of forty he made himself master of the 
Greek and Hebrew languages, so far, at least, as to be 
able to read the Old and New testaments in their original 
tongues. He had a large library ; had served twice as a 
representative to the General Court ; had filled the offices 
of County Commissioner, and Selectman ; was cautious 
and exact ; was self-taught, and was highly respected for 
his piety and virtue. He fell in his field ])y a sun-stroke, 
aged sixty-eight years. 

Nathaniel Adams, tlie son of Dr. Joseph, and grand- 
son of the Rev. Joseph Adams, lived on the new road, 
near Beauty Pond, and on the old homestead originall}' 
settled b}' his father ; he had a nephew settled near him. 
He was a man social in his manners, as were the most of 
his kindred ; he was a Church member, much devoted, — 
neither cold nor storm kept him from church on the Sab- 
bath ; even in the midst of a tempest "Uncle Nat" was 
sure to come, and "Aunt Nabby" by his side well pro- 
tected from the cold. The old erect, red sleigh and grey 
horse, jingling at least one bell, brought them safely ; and 
the happy pair were always well received. He lived to 
more than his fourscore, and died leaving one son. 

John Keniston. Where is the boy in town that has 
not heard of him ? He came from Newington at an earl3'- 
day, and pitched his tent near the shore of the Branch 
river, and near its junction with the Suncook. He was a 
great hunter and trapper : the otter, the beaver, and the 
foxes ; the mink, the musk-rat, the wild goose, and the 
duck, — all had occasion to fear his weapons of death, 
and to keep aloof from his hidden traps and deceptive 
boats. 



18G3 FIRST FAMILIES. 85 

Beneath a bunch of pine or hemlock boughs, Keniston 
would sometimes secrete himself, and floating down the 
stream thus disguised, would deal death upon large flocks 
of unwary ducks, or whatever else might be decoyed or 
deceived by him. 

Keniston lived fourscore years and upwards ; was a 
good citizen, and left children who inherited his estate. 

Pitt Lougee settled on the south side of the Suncook, 
opposite Bunker's Mill. He built a good farm-house, and 
also a mill for coloring and dressing cloths. This was 
our first coloring and clothing mill ; the same site is now 
owned and occupied by J. M. Babcock, Esquire, for the 
same purposes, yet A'ory much enlarged and improved. 

The old fulling mill was a small building, and part of 
it remained unfinished a long time. The cloth was fulled 
and colored here, and then it was carried to a small build- 
ing near the dwelling house, there pressed and finished. 
The press was of oak, and was large according to the old 
fashions. 

Mr. Lougee came from Barrington, near Dover. In 
person he was tall and erect, his hair white, tied in a cue ; 
he was quick in motion, always industrious ; the tones of 
his voice were feminine and youthful, Avhile his silvery 
locks indicated advanced old age. 

He returned at length to his native Barrington, where 
he died at the age of ninety years. 

Pelatiah Daniels settled in the south-east of Barn- 
stead. He was here early ; was prominent in town af- 
fairs ; was intelligent, lived to a good old age ; left chil- 
dren, but none of them remain. 



86 HISTORY OF liAKNSTEAD. l'''*'^ 

Samuel Caswell was here as early as 1785, took an 
elevated lot on the high groniids at Beanty Hill, which 
connnanded a beautiful view from the White Hills to 
Portsmouth Harbor. 

He came from Nottingham, was a temperance rnnn, 
and was ()i)po.setl to the use of tobacco as well as to ar- 
dent spirits. His strictly temperance hal)its prol)ably 
added n.any, many years to his long life. He was at all 
times industrious, quiet, and contented ; and, as has been 
said, was never seen fifteen miles from home. He died in 
l<sr>5, aged one hundred and seven years. He reared a 
large family ; one of his sons inherited the homestead. 

Cai)tain John Dkeav. He resided on tlie Province 
Road : his jjlace was the same, since occupied by Benja- 
min Hodgdon. 

Ca[)tain Drew had been an officer in the Revolution, 
and settled here innnediatel}^ afterwards. His land ex- 
tended from the Pittsfiehl line to the Range parallel, and 
onward north of the Province Road, containing both val- 
ley and rolling lands. He at once felled the trees and 
cleared several acres of it for planting. After living a 
while in a cabin, he built a large framed house, also a barn 
on the opposite side of the road ; this house he occupied 
as a ta\ern. 

His manner of life was singular; he was in the habit 
of dressing in furs, and in various rustic garbs ; and for 
most of the time made tlie deep woods his dwelling place. 
He often wandered far back into Canada, supplying himself 
with game from the forest ; and when that failed, he fed 
himself on domestic animals, such as he could find on the 
way. Thus wandering he lived many years, sometimes 



1863 FIRST FAMILIES. 87 

however trading in horses and cattle with the Canadians. 
Occasionally he would return home, but his stay at liome 
was usually of short duration. At length, on one of his 
returns, he sold his house and all his lands to one Collins, 
reserving only a small lot in the orchard next to the 
street, and near the west end of the barn for his burying- 
ground. 

Several j-oars had elapsed when the old Captain re- 
turned ; and after being supported a considerable time, at 
the town's expense, he died, and was buried in the or- 
chard. A rude stone is left there to mark his resting 
place. 

Subsequent to Drew's decease, as well as before, there 
were many strange stories afloat in reference to him, but 
whether true or false will perhaps never be known. There 
were several circumstances which tended to rouse sus- 
picion and give currency to the reports then in circula- 
tion. 

Drew's was a tavern house, and a stranger (whom 
they called a peddler), one evening, had been seen riding 
that way. The next day, near by, a horse was found 
feeding by the road side, and there being no owner for 
him, he was taken to Drew's barn ; and, according to the 
laws or fashions of that time, a birch withe was tied about 
the neck, and the horse was cried as an astray on all the 
roads in town, but no owner came for him then or ever 
afterwards. This matter rested for a time, but soon sus- 
picions and surmises took wing, until the story of Drew 
and the Peddler was common to all the neighborhood. 

Some time afterwards a cave was discovered near the 
same old house, to the east of it, Avliich was covered in, 
and had been kept most adroitl}^ ; and being found after 



88 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAT). 1*^G3 

the old man had gone hence, tended to perpetnate those 
suspicions and surmises as against the good faith of its 
original proprietor, and paved the way for ghosts and 
hobgoblins in that neighl)orhood. 

Collins continued to dwell there, but the old barn, as 
■they would have it, was haunted with the midnight ghosts 
of the departed ; the barn floor even appeared to be 
moved b}^ tliem ; the planks with which it was laid could 
not be kept down ; at night they would be torn up ; Col- 
lins would nail them down, but they could not be made to 
stay there ; and such was the faith of this man as to the 
wicked works which had been done in that old barn, and 
in the uneartldy spectres which seemed to follow and in- 
habit it, he at length became induced to tear it down. 
This being done he built one on the opposite side of the 
road ; and by that act, and from that day, for aught we 
know, the anger of the ghosts became appeased. 

This was many years ago ; since then we are not 
aware that any such spectral demonstrations have been 
witnessed there. 

Aaron Ciiesley came from Durham in 1771, and 
bought the land bordering on the Suncook, west of it, 
and not far from the Parade. This proved to be well- 
wooded, abounding with heavy timber, and productive ! 
He soon became a prosperous farmer ; annuall}^ he filled 
his large barn with hay and grain ; his numerous stock of 
cows, fat oxen, and horses, amply rewarded his industry, 
his faithfulness and toil. He raised much fruit, and an- 
nually made from twenty-five to thirty hogsheads of cider. 
This being stored in his cellar, would in the course of 
the year be brought up in mugs, to be consumed as a bev- 



1863 FIRST FAMILIES. 89 

erage by the family, and by workmeu employed on the 
farm. 

Mr. Chesley owned a part of the new saw-mill which 
stood on the south side of the Snncook, opposite the 
mills. " Uncle Aaron," as he was called, was thick set, 
head inclining forward, with long white locks ; he was 
quick in movement as well as in wit. 

While passing the village doctor's door one day, he 
was saluted, — 

"How are ye, Mr. Chesley?" 

" I am right up and down, like a dog's fore leg." 

" Yes," said the doctor, " and you're a right up and 
down dog all over." 

They were always friendly, yet ready for a joke, try- 
ing to make life cheerful. 

Mr. Chesle3^ was a descendant of Philip Chesley who 
lived in Dover in 1642. Aaron died in 1820 ; his family 
was large, and his descendants still occupy the old home- 
stead. 

Richard Sinclair was the son of Maj. Richard Sinclair, 
of Gilmanton, who was one- of the petitioners for the first 
Town-meeting of that town. 

Richard Sinclair of Barnstead, was born in Newing- 
tou ; his wife was the daughter of Charles Hodgdou, 
Esquire ; he was the first trader in Barnstead, and did 
much in raising men for the service of the Revolution. 
In town affairs he was active, and evinced a taste for in- 
ternal improvements. His business habits often called 
him from home ; at length he left home, apparently as 
usual, but never returned, and never afterwards was 

12 



90 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

traced. His wife was a Puritan, wlio lived much beloved, 
and died lamented. 

His son, Charles G., was a soldier in the war of 1812, 
and eventualh- died of disease caused by a wound re- 
ceived in that service. 

Their descendants do not appear to be numerous in 
Barnstead, yet one grandson, John G. Sinclair, Esq., is 
prominently known, at least politicall}-, — is valiant in the 
democratic faith of his ancestors, and is one of the brave 
sons of New Hampshire. He has extended favors to 
us in the publication of these annals. 

John Tasker, Esquire. He lived in the East ptirt of 
Barnstead, on the same premises now occupied by his 
descendants ; was a smith by trade, and a native of New- 
ington. He had purchased at auction large tracts of laud, 
prices varjdng from £10 to £17 by tlie hundred acres. 

This land was sold in the pa^'ment of taxes mostly to 
cancel expenses of the Province Road. Mr. Tasker was 
a man of considerable wealth and influejice ; was a farmer, 
and occasionally filled the offices of selectman and mod- 
erator and other places of public trust. He lived to the 
age of nearly fourscore. His son Joseph inherited the 
homestead, and lived to a good old age, and died leaving 
sons and grandsons still to inherit the soil. 

Moses Rand, a native of New^buryport, located him- 
self in 1772, on tlie high grounds then uncultivated, but 
fertile, towards " Beauty Hill." He died in 1825 at an 
advanced age, leaving a fine farm to his surviving family. 
He had three sons, Samuel, Wentworth and Jonathan. 
The two latter were soldiers in the war of 1812. These 



18G3 FIRST FAMILIES. 91 

both died in iiovtheni N(?w York. Samuel married, and 
lived and died here, leaving a large family. His son still 
oecnpies the homestead. One of the grandsons is a 
physician in Vermont, and proves to be an honor to the 
name. A daughter of Moses became the wife of John 
Shannon, who was a mail carrier, and who brouglit the 
first mail into Barnstead. Afterwards the same mail came 
constantly freighted wnth that celebrated journal, "The 
New^ Hampshire Patriot," which has ever worked wonders 
in shaping the politics of Barnstead, and of the state. 
For many years its editor was Isaac Hill. Moses Rand 
was a good citizen. Dr. IMark Walker of North Barn- 
stead is a descendant in the fourth generation, and is 
a worth}^ member of his profession. 

The Rands are descendants from Francis Rand of Pis- 
cataqua — 1G23. 

William Loud, in 1780, settled on Lord's Hill near 
the Parade. This settler was noted for his devotional 
piety ; although the long words which he brought into 
action at religions gatherings were not veiy instructive 
nor entertaining, yet " Uncle Lord," (as they called liim,) 
was alwa_ys respected. He lived the life of an honest 
man, and died the death of a Christian, aged 85 years. 

Lemuel Hates, the son of Paul Hayes of Barrington, 
w^as born in 1777. In 1800 he married Abigail Bennett, 
daughter of John Bennett, Esq., and settled in Barnstead, 
a farmer. His was a fine location of rolling wood-land in 
the north-east corner of the town, near the Alton line. 
This farm proved to be one of the best, and for many 
years Mr. Ha^'es cultivated it with success. He lived 



92 HISTORY OF BARXSTEAD. 1863 

here to see bis large family of seven sons and two 
daughters reared to full age, and trained for the active 
and useful duties and business of life. 

Late years, this farm lias been owned by the town, 
who have made it a residence for the unfortunate poor ; 
and from 3'ear to 3'ear, as they become objects of pul)lic 
charity, they are left here, most of them in their last 
days, to enjoy as well as they may, the sweets of an 
agreeable, pleasant home. 

The sons of Lemuel ILxyes, still living, are George 
W., in Dover, N. H. ; Stephen in Worcester, Mass ; 
Jesse, in Ilolston ; Alvin, in Cambridgeport ; and 
Joseph R. Hayes, in Lowell, Massachusetts. 

Dr. J. R. ILayes settled in that city about 25 years 
ago — has had a successful business — constantly keep- 
ing a large store of medicines, and, becoming wealthy 
and influential, has accomplished much good in his day 
and generation. 

His wife was Miss Leah D. Hayes, daughter of Paul 
Hayes, Esq., of Alton, N. H. 

It was by the friendly aid and encouragement of Dr. 
Hayes that the editor of this historical work was at ftrst 
induced to undertake the arduous but agreeable task of 
its revision and publication. 

Eliphalet Notter, Esquire, was a son of Major John 
Nutter. He lived in the southeast section, was an owner 
of real estate to a large amount. In 1807 he married 
Lovey Locke, a daughter of James Locke, a first settler, 
(she had seen the bears in this then wilderness,) with 
whom he lived many years, and then dying left several 
children. He was active in business. He was a justice 




^.Jta^^ 



18G3 FIRST FAMILIES. ' 93 

— tried causes as such, was an overseer of the poor, was 
often a selectman, and moderator in town meeting. In 
his time he was the principal trial justice at Barnstead, 
and to him the people applied to obtain a redress of their 
small grievances which were comprised within his immedi- 
ate jurisdiction. He built a saw-mill near his house, and 
furnished much lumber to the inhabitants ; — was pious, 
social, pleasant, and full of merriment. lie died full of 
years, much lamented, leaving a large family. 

His son follows in the foot-steps of his honored father, 
still occupying the old homestead. 

Another son, E. S. Nutter, Esquire, (b. Nov. 26, 1819) 
was for many years in a successful trade at Barnstead. 
Was postmaster here under two administrations. In 
1855 he removed to Concord, N. H. ; has since been en- 
gaged in a lucrative business at home and abroad, and 
of late has retired on the fruitful accumulations of his 
industry. He is President of one of the New Hampshire 
Railroads. His wife was Miss vSylvania M. Blanch ard 
of Lowell, Mass. 

Their only daughter, Ada R., an accomplished young 
lady, died at the age of 17, much beloved. 

Mr. Nutter is one of the men who have favored a pub- 
lication of the History of Barnstead. 

CHARLES IIODGDON, ESQ. 

He was the son of Chides Hodgdon, senior, who was 
an early settler, and a deacon of the church. 

Charles, junior, w^as its representative in the New 
Hampshire legislature not less than nineteen years. He 
was an active justice of the peace, was constant at church 
and liberal to the minister. He reared a large family, and 
devoted much of the fruits of his industry to their educa- 



94 HISTORV OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

tion. He prospered, had faithful servants, built liis house 
large, and his many barns were well filled with hay and 
stock. His fine horses and carriag'es were ever ready at 
his call ; and few were the travellers who passed that way 
without greeting him. 

A clergyman, the Rev. J. G. Adams, of Lowell, Mass., 
who, when young, made a visit to this, his honored uncle, 
has favored ns with the following communication : 

A VISIT AT IIODG don's FORTY YEARS AGO. 

" I have quite a vivid remembrance of my first visit 
to Barnstead, in iny boyhood. I had never before been 
so far awa}^ from my native seaport town (Portsmouth), 
into the country. And it was the country, real!}', to me ; 
and country life did I there realize in all its positiveness 
and exuberance. M3' home for tlie most of the time 
during m}^ visit was at my uncle's, Charles Hodgdou, Esq. 
His house was of ample dimensions, and answered the 
threefold uses of home, law-office, and hotel. Such a 
kitchen as I was ushered into in the earlj^ evening, after 
a sleighride of long hours from Portsmouth, I had not 
seen before. That crackling fire in the immense chimney 
place, where a little less than a foot of long wood was 
ablaze ; the big table on the opposite side of the room, 
with its large circular leaf turned back, and its under 
frame answering for a chair r the sturdy cook, Betsy 
Meader, with her glowing face, preparing supper before 
that fiery glare where the oak and maple were consum- 
ing ; the hearty welcome of cousins and other friends, all 
new faces to me ; the equall}^ welcome supper of substan- 
tial ham and sweet brown bread, and what a waggish son 



1863 FIRST FAMILIES. 95 

of the Granite State once called the treat of all other 
treats — doughnuts and apple sauce ; and the cheerful 
chatting of the family and neighbors and friends, and the 
singing of some of the olden tunes by the musical mem- 
bers of that household band ; these realities are almost 
as freshly in mind now as when more than forty 3'ears 
ago they were first and indelibly written into 1113^ memory. 

My uncle Charles was a man of much mental vigor, 
although his bodily powers were affected by a palsied trem- 
ulousness which followed him through most of his life. 
He had good business talents, a generous heart and a 
strong will. He was "justice of the peace and quorum," 
stoi-e-keeper, settler of estates, and adviser in general to 
all who sought counsel of him. His wife, my father's 
sister, was one of the worthiest of women, a frugal house- 
wife, a devoted mother, and a faithful and trusting Christ- 
ian. The family were all singers, and the children, older 
and 3-ounger, made one of the most musical of choirs. I 
first heard them sing " Luton " together, around that 
large fire-place, — Charles, Mary, Elizabeth and Nancy, 
each taking a part ; and they sang it with a will and a 
richness that I have never _yet heard, that is, just as it 
sounded to me then. " Luton " since has always been a 
favorite tune with me. 

The store of my uncle was a mixed one of dry and 
" West India goods and groceries." As was usual then in 
country stores, some of the staple articles in the West Li- 
dia goods line were sugars, molasses, salt fish, and Santa 
Cruz. New England, or " White Eye," was the democrat- 
ic, Santa Cruz the aristocratic, beverage ; although in not 
a few instances they became strangely intermixed. 
Cider, my uncle used to say, was a " puncher." That 



9G HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

would be often sought in the house, after the stronger 
potation had been furnished at the store. It is a matter 
for congratulation that the Granite State has somewhat 
more light in reference to th ese drinking usages now than 
it had forty j-ears ago ; and still there is need of an in- 
crease of it. 

Law cnses were attended to at ray uncle's, and I 
remember meeting there often, my uncle's brother, Ben- 
jamin, of the "Parade," as a writer and reader of depo- 
sitions. Of plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses, there 
comes up before me some rather comical reminiscences, 
but the groupings are a little too nebulous for me to 
bring out distinctly with the pen. 

I have spoken of my uncle's home as a kind of hotel. 
That is, he usually kept open house for such travelling 
people as were on their way to and from the lower towns 
in the winter season, and who would rather tarry with him 
than at the tavern houses, some miles below or above 
him. As his accommodations, house and stable were 
ample, and his hired and other help an efficient force, 
always, he was in readiness for such applicants as might 
occasionally present themselves. 

It was during my visit here that I had a most agreea- 
ble experience in the district school, then taught by Rev. 
Enos George. The old school-house was well ventilated, 
with artificial if not artistic openings, and the room, in those 
cold winter days, was always warmest just before we were 
in readiness to leave it. But we had good times there. 
Our " spelling bees " and exercises in grammar were 
specially enjoyable, and our worthy " village master," the 
town's minister, although careful in the maintenance of 



1863 FIRST FAMILIES. 97 

his authority, was one of the most considerate of teach- 
ers. Blessings on his memory ! 

Such are some of the recollections of ni}' first visit to 
Barnstead. But what changes have been wrought there 
in those forty years now gone ! 

JOHN PITMAN. 

He was born in Lee, N. H., May 7. 1732, and in 
March, 17<S!), settled in Barnstead, as did also his brother 
Samuel. His lands were in the east part of Barnstead, 
where no clearing had been previously made, and no 
pul)lic road had been opened in that neighborhood. He 
commenced by cultivating one acre at a time. 

The bears and wolves troubled his flocks and planta- 
tions. Mau}^ difficulties he had to contend with. Yet 
bj' industry and frugality he overcame all obstacles. He 
was a man of stern integrity ; accordingly he trained his 
children to be faithful to their calling, honest in their 
dealings, and charitable to the afflicted. 

May 7, 1832, on his hundredth birthday, Mr. Pitman 
still enjoyed good health. On that day, he sent for his 
clei'gyman. Rev. Enos George, who baptized him, and 
they i)artook of the Lord's supper together. It seemed 
to the old man like the beginning of a new life. 

About that time he procured a set of teeth, white, 
strong and fashionable, which was in truth a wonder in 
the neighborhood, and he began to look young again. 

He lived to the age of 101 years, 9 months, and 21 
daj's — died Feb. 28, 1834, and was buried in the field 
where a plain stone bears record of his name and age. 

His wife, Susannah, died March 6, 1835, aged 95 

13 



98 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 18G3 

years. His sons, to the fourth generation, still occupy 
the homestead. 

Sarah Leighton, the centre of seven generations, still 
resides in Barnstead. She has lived to see them all, as 
follows : Hannah Small, the wife of Edward Small^ aged 
100 years ; Sarah Small, wife of Samuel Pitman ; 
Elizabeth Pitman, wife of Benjamin WinkleA' ; Sarah 
Winkley, wife of James Leighton ; Varnum H. Leigh- 
ton, the son of James Leighton ; Charles H. Leighton, the 
son of Varnum H. Leighton, and Frank AV. Leighton, 
aged 6 years, of the 7th generation, son of Charles H. 
Leighton. 

She has had two grandfathers, two uncles, one brother, 
and twelve cousins, all by the name of Samuel. This 
lady is now in her seventy-flfth year. 

Ebenezer Nutter was from Newington ; born Dec. 
10, 1756. His wife was Temperance Colebath of Ports- 
mouth. In 1783 they came from Newington on horseback, 
with a child in their arms, and plodded their way to North 
Barnstead, guided by spotted trees. Their log-cabin was 
four miles from their nearest neighbor ; but it was a 
pleasant elevation of land, commanding a pleasant view 
of the surrounding country. 

Mr. Nutter had been a soldier in the Revolution, and 
was a pensioner. 

The first grass seen on his farm was from a turf brought 
home by Mrs. Nutter Irom her nearest neighbor. 

Mr. Nutter was an honest, upright man, and filled 
the office of deacon more than fifty years. He had eleven 
children : seven sons, and four daughters. 



1863 FIRST FAMILIES. 99 

Tlie first cleat li was that of his eldest daughter, aged 
nineteen. She had anticipated it, and had expressed a 
desire to be buried beneath lier favorite birch tree. The 
same tree is now standing. It still remains, true to cast 
its summer shade, and to scatter its autumn leaves upon 
the ashes of that dear one who had seemed to seek and to 
implore its genial presence more than sixty years ago. 

That tree is now nine feet in circumference, and is the 
only one of the ■•' old growth " now remaining upon the 
old homestead. 

Deacon Nutter had resided here seventy years ; had 
lived to see how the generations come and go. At the 
age of ninety he rested from liis labors. 

The third and fourth generations still live there. 

Solomon Pendergast, as a deacon, was the successor 
of Deacon Nutter. He resided at the north part of Barn- 
stead, and officiated in that office for many years. He 
delighted in hunting, and was sometimes successful in 
catcliing bears. He lived to the age of seventy-five years 
and bid farew^ell to earth and all its scenes, seeking a rest 
in that as yet undiscovered haven best known to that God 
whom he served. He left a family of sons, upon one of 
whom the mantle of tlie hoi}' order still rests. 

Deacon John Pendergast, the son, is still a resident 
here. 

William Kelley, an Irish tailor, came here in 1814. 
On his passage to this country he was wrecked on the 
shore of the Bay of Fundy, and after being a wanderer 
for some months in Maine, he found his way to Barn- 
stead, where, from house to house, he became useful to 



100 HISTORV OF BARXSTEAD. 



1863 



its inhabitants in his vocation as a tailor. He was the 
only Irishman who had resided there up to that time, 
lie entertained a favorable idea of his own country men 
as tailors, but could not endure the rude fashions of the 
Yankees, and insisted that in Ireland no Yankee would 
be permitted even to heat the goose of a tailor. Kellej^ 
was a o'ood workman. lie died here. 



Having given a brief account of the first settlers of 
Barnstead so ftir as our tradition traces them, we now 
return to the circumstances of its being chartered. 

The town at that period was laid out six miles square. 
There were no settlements eastward nor towards the 
great lake. The forest was dense, and it was with con- 
siderable difficulty that the pioneers, when absent from 
home, found their way back to their cabins. 

Their foot-ways and their bridle-paths in the wilder- 
ness were indicated by spotted trees ; yet in the dark- 
ness of night these guide-posts became of little use. 

The great lake, Winnipesaugee, was only six miles 
north, but very little was then known of it. It had been 
explored only by the land-sui-veyors, who had represented 
it as abounding with fish, surrounded with a spacious 
forest fruitful in game. 

The Indians built their camp-fires there, having been 
driven forth from their more southern hunting-grounds, 
and about the lakeshore they seemed more secluded and 
more at peace. 

The cariboo, the otter, the beaver and fox, as well as 



1SG3 PONDS AND STREAMS. 101 

the more ferocious beur, had often bit the dust here, 
smitten by the stealthy arrow of tlie red man. 

Standing upon that beautiful lakeshore, we can but 
depict those sturdy sons of the forest ; those tall, copper- 
faced, beardless natives of the new world, erect in man- 
liness, and dressed in the gaudy plumage of variegated 
birds, and in the furs of wild beasts, while they breathed 
the pure air from the gentle ripple that laves the shore, 
or joined in the giddy dance, or sought the game that 
gathered there. 

This to him was indeed a happy shore ; it had been 
the home of his fathers. As if bequeathed to his ances- 
tors by the Great Spirit, it had come down to them and 
to him, from the beginning of the world, through count- 
less generations. 

This dense, wide spread forest was sacred to him ; no 
wonder then, that by his own right arm, in many a mur- 
derous conflict, it was sought to be defended. 



S T R E A ]M S 



The rivers take their rise from the ponds in tlie north. 
There are several of them, rolling their crystal waters 
over pebbly foundations ; they meander through our six 
miles square of territory, affording considerable power 
for saw and grain mills, as well as for manufacturing 
purposes. 

Within these six miles there are no less than eight 
ponds, all of which afford a good supply of fish, yet the 



102 HISTORY OF BARXSTEAl). 1803 

finny tribes, as well as the game of tlie forests, are greatly 
diminished by the lapse of years and the uiareh of civil- 
ization. 



FISHING AND HUNTING GROUNDS. 



The Snncook river, which passes through the town 
at its centre, is the grand channel which receives 
and bears away its tributaries, and the bright waters 
which descend directly from the ponds heretofore named. 
In this stream, as well as in the ponds, are the pickerel, 
speckled trout, and perch, which for richness of flavor, 
nothing of the finny tribe is more excellent. 

The early hunters found in the forests here, the black 
bear in great numbers, the wolf, the deer, the wild cat, 
the fox, the otter and beaver ; these were valuable for 
their skins, and were taken in large numbers. 

The beaver had his house and his dam ; his dams 
were built with so much sagacit}'^ and strength, that many 
of them remain almost entire to this day, and we are told 
that now and then a solitary beaver is seen wandering 
near, as if to visit once again his ancient homestead, long 
lost and now going to decay. 



THE FIRST RECORDS. 



Up to the year 1772, the registrj^ of all the sales of 
rertl estate in New Hampshire was made in Rockingham 



l''^63 PROVINCE ROAD. 103 

County ; it was kept at Exeter. After that year the 
records were removed and kept at Dover, in tlie County 
of Strafford. (In the appendix is a copy of one of the 
original deeds, marked c.) 



PROVINCE ROAD. 



In the 3'ear 1770 this road was ordered to be built b}^ 
the General Court. It was intended as a great thorougli- 
fare from Portsmouth to Canada ; and passed through the 
town on or near the range of the first tier of lots. The 
land at that time being all, or nearly all, in the hands of 
the proprietors, a road tax was assessed upon each owner. 

This outlay, although it would work a great conven- 
ience to actual settlers, proved burdensome, and many 
surrendered their rights to the land rather than i)ay the 
tax thus imposed upoii them. 

Thereupon man}' of the lots were sold by the oflicei-s 
of the Crown ; the sales being made at Dover, Newingtou 
and Portsmouth. 

The road was made under a contract Avith the propri- 
etors by Jonathan Chesley, who after finishing the road, 
removed to Barnstead. His homestead was about a mile 
east of the centre. His daughter, Sophia, afterwards 
became the wife of Rev. Elnos George. 

Previous to the building of this road, the inhabitants 
had great labor and inconvenience in obtaining their 
provisions thus far into the woods. Their nearest ])laces 



104 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

of supply were Dover and Diirliani, the way being traced 
by spotted trees, throngb a rough hilly wilderness, and 
over nnbridged streams, bearing the burden on foot or on 
horseback. 

The road when finished, as of course would tend to 
increase the number of settlers, and at the same time 
would give much strength and encouragement to the 
original land holders still then residing in Barnstead. 



TROUBLE WITH THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT. 



Soon after the treaty of peace with Erance, the colo- 
nists were greatly irritated by an attempt of the English 
Parliament to increase their revenues by an increase of 
taxation upon the colonies. 

To this end, an act had been })assed laying a duty on 
all paper, vellum, or parchment used in America, and 
declaring all writings on unstamped paper materials to 
be null anil void. 

This was called the Stamp Act, and received the ro3\al 
assent to it March 22, 1765. 

When the news of this act reached here, the people 
everywhere manifested alarm, and a determination to 
resist its execution. 

The assembly of Virginia at once and decisivel}' 
declared its opposition to the Act b}^ spirited resolutions. 
Massachusetts also protested against the Stamp Act, and 
took the lead at this important crisis. In Boston such 



1863 WAR WITH ENGLAND. 105 

was the indignation against the measure, that houses, in 
some instances, were demolished over the heads of such 
tis favored the measure. And as if to render the opposi- 
tion complete, the Boston merchants met and resolved 
never to import any more goods from Great Britain, 
during the existence of the Stamp Act. 

Deputies from nine of the colonies met, agreed on a 
declaration of rights, and sent a petition to the King, and 
a memorial to both Houses of Parliament, in which their 
opposition to such a law was fully set forth. 

In Parliament, Mr. Pitt was eloquent against such 
oppression; fiually, on the 18th of March, 17G(3, the 
Stamp Act was repealed. 

Still the British Ministry would not abandon their 
design of increasing their revenue by extraordinary tax- 
ation in America. 

In 1767 an act was passed by Parliament imposing 
duties on glass, painters' colors, and on cotfee and tea 
imported to the colonies. These duties were small in 
themselves, yet the principle on which they were imposed 
was olfensive. 

From this, another association was formed for sus- 
pending the importation of all goods ou which duties 
were charged. 

This opposition, supported by petitions and remon- 
strances, procured the abolition of all duties except three 
pence on every pound of tea ; but the colonists still re- 
sisted. 

The British Government finding mild efforts unavailing 
in sustaining such laws, sent to Boston four regiments of 
troops to be stationed there to enforce them. 



106 HISTORY OF BAKNSTEAU. 18(53 

Early in 1774 Parliament ordered the refractory col- 
onists to be pnnislied, and appointed General Gage to 
take charge of tlie troops of Boston and execnte its 
mandates. It ordered the port of Boston to be closed 
from all commerce, and thns all intercourse with the town 
by water was suspended. 

The colonial government, tlie public records, and 
offices were removed to Salem. 

All this could but serve to irritate the American 
people. 

In May, 1774, General Gage arrived in Boston, com- 
missioned as Governor of Massachusetts and Commander 
in Chief of the British forces. He notified the assembly 
to meet him in convention at Salem, but on fin'ther reflec- 
tion countermanded the summons. 

The counter order, however, being deemed illegal, 
the meeting was held in the Governor's absence. They 
then and there organized themselves into a Provincial 
Congress, formed a plan of defence, appointed general 
officers, and adopted measures to collect supplies and 
military stores, at Concord and Worcester. 

This Massachusetts assembly, after a short adjourn- 
ment, again met, and voted to raise twelve thousand 
soldiers, and sent agents to tlie neighboring colonies 
soliciting their co-operation. 

Thereupon the neighboring colonies sent their commit- 
tees, and agreed witli the assembly on a i)lan of opera- 
tions. 

At about the same time, on April 19, 1775, the British 
army opened the war of the Re^'olution, b}' taking a 
march from their encampment in Boston to Lexington 



ISfi;^ WAR WITH ENGLA^'D. 107 

and Concord, with the intent to take or desti-oy military 
supplies. 

The battle at Bunker's Hill, on the 17th of June, then 
next followed. The American or rebel army (so called) 
was stationed at Cambridge. All were ou the alert at the 
common cry of war. The farmer, the fisherman, and men 
of every grade and occupation, repaired to Cambridge 
with whatever of weapons they had, until the}- became an 
army numbering fourteen thousand men. 

On the •2nd of July, 1775, General fxeorge Washing- 
ton appeared at Cambridge and took command. He 
I'ound the troops, many of them without equipments and 
pooi'ly clad ; yet they were filled with the blood of 
patriots, and were alive to obey his orders. Within 
thiee miles, at Boston, were the British army, then 
numbering twent}' thousand well trained troops. 

The pay allowed to his army was one shilling per day 
to each man. The dress was brown osnaburgs, something 
like a shirt, double-caped over the shoulder, in imitation 
of an Indian garb, and bearing upon the breast of it, in 
distinct letters, '' Liberty or Death." 

Thus commenced the war of the Revolution, to which 
Barnstead contributed its just share, thereby encouraging 
the colonies to become free and independent. It is 
worthy of remembrance that, when by order of Congress, 
the Test List was taken, there was no one found in 
Barnstead who would not, " at the risk of his life and 
fortune, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British 
fleets and armies." (See Test List, appendix d.) 

Soon after tlie commencement of the war of the Rev- 
olution a new arrangement in its affairs was established 
in Barnstead. The town chose its own officers, collected 



108 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 



]8()3 



its own taxes, :iik1 the proprietors were at once relieved 
from duties which iiad i)revioiisly devolved upon them. 



R i<: C () R D s 



The following is the copy of a deed in 1 777. conveying 
lot nnniber .')3, for non-payment of taxes from Hatevil 
Nntter, junior, to the purchaser. Benjamin Nutter: 

"Town Collector, Stephen Pickering, of Barnstead. in the 
County of Stratford and State of New Hampshire, yeoman, 
Collector of Town, Comity and State Tax for the Town. 1777, 
and in consideration of thirty-six shilliusis lawful money paid by 
Benjamin Nutter of Barnstead, aforesaid gentleman, he being 
the lowest bidder at the public vendue sale, according to the 
terms of the vendue for the sale of lands : We confirm unto 
him and his heirs, in the third range of lots, number 33, being 
part of a one hundred acre lot originally, in the right of Hatevil 
Nutter, junior. 

John Taskeu, 

Justice of the Peace. 
Witness: Wintukop Smart, 
John Tasker. 

MASON TITLE. 

About this time, and previously, there had been a 
great embarrassment to the settlers, in consequence of a 
claim set up against their titles by the Mason heirs. This 
claim was transferred to persons in Portsmouth, alleging 
it to have come through the agency, or in behalf of the 



1S63 TOWN RECORDS. 109 

British Govenmieiil. It covered all the hinds in Barn- 
stead, and settlers began to fear the loss of all their 
titles, which had been earned through much toil, and 
purchased in good faith many years previously. 

This claim extended back to 1G21, and purported to 
be from the Plyniouth company. At the death of Mason 
it fell to his son, John Tafton Mason, and then to his 
daughter Jane. 

In 17.')8 this claim had been t)'ansferred to Theodore 
Atkinson, Hunking Wentworth, and others of Portsmouth. 
At this time, settlers by paying a small fee, became 
released from the long and wearisome vexation of this 
claim. 

This John I^. INIason was from Hami)shire C(niuty, 
England, and from this Count}* New Hampshire took its 
name. 

FIRST TOWN MKETINc;. 

Of record, it a])pears that on November 22, 1775, the 
voters were called together f(M- the choice of State and 
County officers. This appears to have been the first meet- 
ing for such a purpose ; it was called in comiection with 
the voters of the inhabitants of Oilman ton, and was 
holden at the house of William Parsons, junior. At this 
meeting Joseph Badger was unanimously elected to the 
office of an assembly man, (representative,) to attend at 
the meeting of the Legislature in December of that year, 
at Exeter. Votes also were cast for a Councillor for 
the County. At the assembly M. Weare of Hampton 
Falls, presided, a plan of Government was adopted, and 
a resolution was passed, recommending a continuation of 
the war. 



110 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAl). 1803 

The more immediate action of Barnstead in the war 
of the Revolution is of record. 

From this it appears that in the 3'eai- 1775 the popuhi- 
tion of the Town was 252 : males under IG years, 82 ; 
from 16 to 50, 53 ; over 50, 4 ; females, 111 ; in the arm}^ 
2 ; fire arms, 2.S ; wanting, 25 ; powder, none. It seems 
that this first census was taken by order of the Conven- 
tion, to ascertain the numl)er which would l)e held to bear 
arms in defence of the colonies. 

At a town meeting held April 26. 1775, 

^^ Voted, Captain Ricluird Siucliiir, 1 £, lis. Gel lawful 
money, for his and the men's exrpenses in going down below for 
the defence of onr country.'" 

'■'• August 22, 177G, the town " voted to pay four men 

fort}'-eight shillings each for a bounty to go to Crown 

Point. 

^^ Voted, .John Tasker and Samuel Pltiuaii a couniiittee 
of safety." 

At a meeting holden by the town in the same year, at 
which John Bunker presided, 

" Voted, Six hundred dollars to four men to serve at Crown 
Point." 

The town's proportion of corn for the army was 3885 
pounds. 

" Voted. December 12, 1776, $52 bounty for everj' man who 
would go to Crown Point on the expedition the present year." 

"June 17, nil, Voted. $600 to the men to serve at Crown 
Point." 

" Voted, That all the money paid by tlie sundrj^ persons for 
the one and three year's men should be paid by the towu." 



1863 TOWN RECORDS. Ill 

" 1778, FotoZ, Richard Ciuclair and Benjamin Nutter be a 
committee to hire soldiers at the best rate they can, as tliey may 
be sent for tlie present year, to go into tlie service. 

" Vcitcd, That Joliu Elliott should gather the corn we are to 
furnish tlie army, and that he shall have four bushels for every 
one hundred he raises. 

" Voted, To pay Kichard Ciuclair two hundred dollars for 
letting out Stephen Hood to the service." 

'' 17HI, Voted, That we will raise men to go into the army 
according to their worth and wealth. 

" Voted. That silver money be paid to one three year's num 
and no more." 

Some of the soldiers above referred to belonged ir. 
Banistead ; others were hired from other places. 

The products of the land were plenty ; corn was 
abundant, but gold and silver were exceedingly scarce. 
Paper money issued by the new Government began to 
depreciate and became valueless. This continental money 
(as it was called) was flooding the town, but could not be 
passed ofl' to any good purpose, and many lost by it. 

This long and tedious war of seven years at length 
came to an end, and great was the rejoicing of the people. 

Taxes had been, and still continued to be, burdensome ; 
but these were nothing in the sight of an independent, 
energetic community. 

TOWN HKCORDS. 

The records of Barnstead have generally been kept 
with neatness and safety ; yet a part of them of late have 
been mislaid, perhaps lost. The volume commencing in 
1774, eight years subsequent to the first settlement, is, 
however, well preserved and in good, condition. 



112 HISTORY OF UARNSTEAD. 18G3 

It may be of interest herein to make a few more 
extracts, as indicating the action of former da3s. 

TOWN ROADS. 

" March 29, 1774. At a Meeting of the Town, at the House 
of Benja. Nutter, — 

" Voted, Beujamin Nutter, Moderator. 

" Pittsflekl Road laid out from near Suncook hridge on the 
Province Road, on the south side of the road near the river, as 
the trees are now spotted through the land. 

" Voted, For a mill privilege, land by way of spotted 
trees thi'ough Dodovah Bunker's land, by his liouse on the hill. 
Said road to be three rods wide. Dated this fourteenth year of 
his Majesty's reign. 

John Tasker, j) 

BEX.r.vMiN NuTTKR, > Selectmen." 

Thomas Edgki:ly. ) 

"Province oe New Hampshire, Strafeord ss. 

By appointment unto us, the subscribers, by the Freeholders 
of Barnstead, to lay out a road, in consideration of said appli- 
cation, at tlie westerly end of Barnstead, we have laid out said 
road. Beginning at the Province road, so called, at the south- 
easterly side of Jethro Bachelder's, and Capt. Richard Cinclair's, 
running north-east between said Bachelder's land and Capt. 
Richard Cinclair's land to the Range ; thence south-easterly as 
the Range road was left ; then as far as John Mudget's, three 
rods wide, and mailing exchange with Capt. Richard Cinclair, 
allowing said Cinclair one rod of the land left for said road by 
the Proprietors, as fiir as his land extends. 

And we liave laid out said Road, ye 29tli day of September, 
in the year of Her Majesty's Reign, Anno Domini, 1774. 

John Tasker, ^ 

Benjamin Nutter, > Selectmen." 

Thomas Edgerly. ) 



18C3 TOWN RECORDS. 113 

'■ Town Meeting holdeu at Benja. Nutter'.s House, April 111. 
177-i, By a number of Inhabitants,— 

" Voted, One liuudred dollars to repair roads this j-ear. 

" Voted, Twenty dollars for necessaries. 

" Voted, Capt. Samuel Pitman six per cent, for what money 
he collected, for his pains for gathering. 

" Vrjted Six shillings for each of the selectmen, for making 
rates and settling accounts. 

'• Voted, Assessors twenty-five cents each. 

" Voted, Three shillings for laborer at road making." 

"Barnstead, Dec. 30, 177-1. Notice is hereby given to j'e 
inhabitants of ye town of Barnstead, that a meeting is to be 
held at Benjamin Nutter's, on Monday, ye Kith day of January, 
at 10 o'clock, A. M., for ye purpose as followeth : — 

" First, to choose a modei-ator; 2nd, to choose a Deputy 
Committee to meet the Committee at Exeter, to choose a man 
to go to Philadelphia. 

John Tasker, 
Bi:x.ja:\iin Nutter." 

"Agreeable to the above Call a meeting Avas held at the 
House of Benjamin Nutter, on ye 16th day of January, 1775. 

" Voted, to send no man as a committee to yonr Exeter 
comite. 

" Meeting dissolved." 

^'■Amount of money raised in 1774, .... 11£ 13s 4d 
The following amounts were appropriated and paid .- 

To County Treasurer 3£ 4s 7d . 

Province Tax, 1£ 12s Od 

Selectmen, laying oiit roads, . . . . 0£ 18s Od 
Carrying down John Nutter to Newing- 

ton, 0£ Gs Od 

Paid for Town book, 0£ 4s Od 

15 • 



114 HISTORY OF liARXSTEAU. 



1863 



Paid Assessors, 0£ Is (k\ 

Paid Esquire Thompson, for notification 
for calling meeting for al)atenient of 
Hats 0£ 7s Id" 

" Barnstead. April 20, 1775. At a Town Meeting liolden 
this day at the House of Benjamin Nutter,— 

''Voted, The selectmen four shillings a day for laying out 
highways. 

" Voted, That no money should be raised for the defence 
of our country." 

••Town meeting, March 28, 177.5. At a Town meeting 
holden on this day, — 

" Richard Cinclair was voted Moderator. 

" Benjamin Nutter. Town Clerk. 

'•Capt. Richard Cinclair, Winthrop Smart, Benjamin Nut- 
ter, Selectmen. 

" Thomas Edgerly, Constable. 

"Jonathan Emerson, John Bunker, Samuel I*itman, Assess- 
ors. 

"Joseph Bunker, Simeon Hatch, Francis Blake, John Tas- 
ker, Highway-men. 

" Dodovah Bunker, John Hawkins, Tything-men, Hogreaves 
and Fence-viewers." 

In 177(3 John Bunker petitioned to have !i, bridge built 
over the Branch river near his mill. 
The town voted not to build it. 

"August 22, 1776, Voted, Winthrop Smart 12 s, Thomas 
Edgerly 12 s, for constables. 

" Voted, To build abridge over the mcetiug-house Branch." 

The Siincook river, as known now, was at first called 
''•The Branch." Bunker's mill was built several years 



1863 TOWN RECORDS. 115 

previous to the building of the above named bridge. The 
mill was built on the north side of »the river ; its entrance 
was from the ledge. 

" 1777. The town voted that John Cinclair be recom- 
mended as a suitable person to receive the commission of 
Justice of the Peace." 

••' March 20, 1777, Voted, To pa_y five shillings per day 
for labor on the highway. 

" Voted, Not to raise any mone^' for schools." 

"■ Annual town meeting holdeu at the house of Benja- 
min Nutter, March, 1778. Benjamin Nutter was chosen 
Moderator ; John Tasker, Clerk ; Benjamin Nutter, Win- 
throp Smart and William Brown, Selectmen ; Samuel Ches- 
ley, Constable ; John Tasker, Richard Cinclair, Assessors ; 
Jonathan Elmerson. Stephen Pickering, Committee ; John 
Bickford, Daniel Jacobs, T^'thingmen ; Jonathan Banker, 
Thomas Swett, Hog-reaves." 

1778. "May 18th, Voted, That John Bunker's grist 
mill was not rated any more than was just and right. 

" Voted, That in consideration of Peace, to a,bate 
Bunker's mill two pounds eight shillings and three pence, 
and make tender ol the same — and he refused. 

'■'■ Voted, John Tasker to stand trial against John Bun- 
ker for his mill -tax in behalf of the town." 

1780. "The Selectmen sent John lilliott, Constable, 
with a warrant to warn out Juda Jenness, who was with 
child, for fear she would be a town charge, she and her 
child to be lawfully warned out of Barnstead." 



116 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 



18G3 



At a meeting of the town bolden for the purpose of 
considering John Elliott's vendue, the town voted to have 
nothing to do with John f^lliott. 

1783. The town voted 20£ lawful money for preach- 
ing in the town. 

" Voted, That John Tasker, Esq., and Charles Hodg- 
don be a committee to agree with a man to preach." 

1785. John Sullivan received 48 votes, and George 
Atkinson 1 1 votes for President. 



S O L D I E R S 

IN THE OLD FRENCH WAR. 

John Aikiu. He served in this war, and returned and 
was left at rest on the Jacob Aikin farm. He had served, 
also, in the Revolution. His age was a hundred years, 
and upwards. 

Col. Joseph Sinclair. He sleeps at his homestead, on 
the farm of the late Elder Wilson. The grave is un- 
marked. 

Joseph Bunker is left to repose on the Deacon Bunker 
Farm, "J. B." is there inscribed on a rude stone. 

SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION. 

[Records from the tomb.] 

Ebenezer Nutter, on the homestead in North Barn- 
stead. Inscription on slate stone : " Deacon P^benezer 



18G3 SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION. 117 

Nutter, died April 18, LS-iO, aged 8G years, 8 months, 
8 days." 

John Clark rests in the Clark burying ground. In- 
scription on eoniinon granite: "J. C, d. 1799." From 
him the Clarks of Barnstead descended. 

Major John Nutter is in the Parade grounds. In- 
scription on slate stone : " John Nutter, b. May 1, 1757 : 
died Nov. 8, 1840, aged 83 years, 8 months. 

Jeremiah Jewett, in the old Parade lot. Inscription 
on slate stone : '' In memory of Dr. Jeremiah Jewett, who 
departed this life April 22, 1836." 

Anthony Nutter, on N. Langley farm. Grave not 
marked nor enclosed. 

Joseph Place, on Captain Chesley's homestead. His 
grave is unmarked and unenclosed. He served on the 
land and on the sea. His wife, Anna C, died in 1871, 
aged 102 years. John, his only son, served in the war 
of 1812, and rests in the same ground. John's three sons 
served against the rebellion ; one of them was lost. 

Valentine Chapman rests at Centre Barnstead. His 
grave has no monument. 

Joseph Tasker is buried in the lot opposite the Union 
Meeting House. Inscription : " In memory of Joseph 
Tasker, esq., died July 5, 1833, aged 77 years, 8 months." 
He proved himself a good soldier, a friend to the Gospel 
and the poor. At the last he rested in peace. 

William Nutter rests on the plains at the homestead. 
Inscription on white marble: "William Nutter, Feb. 15, 
1811, aged 55 j^ears." He served in the United States 
Navy. 



118 HISTORY OF CARNSTEAD. 1863 

Thomas \Ycleh. This veteran of Banistead, after the 
close of the Rcvohitionary war, removed to Thornton, 
occupying the John M. Young farm. He died there. 

Peletiah Penny rests in the Eben Jones field, in 
Snackerty. 

Joseph Patterson Dame. He rests in a burying 
ground opposite Master Kelley's pLace, on the Province 
road, marked by rough granite, not inscribed. 

James Davis, after serving in the Revolution, died in 
the war of 1HV2. 

Samuel Davis, a brother of James, rests in Clark- 
town. The exact locality cannot be traced. 

iLbenezer Adams rests at his homestead, on the 
Province road. A granite stone marks the place, but 
there is no inscription. 

David Jacobs is in the old Tuttle burying ground, on 
the William A. Pierce place. The grave is without marks. 

Jonathan Young is somewhere on Beauty Hill. 

Ephraim Tebbetts is buried by the North road. 

Hatevil Nutter was left in the old Nutter burying 
ground, on C. S. George's farm. 

Capt. Jonathan Chesley reposes on his old homestead. 
A rude stone is there, without an inscription. 

Capt. John Drew remains in the grounds at his old 
homestead, near the old Hodgdon tavern. There is no 
inscription. 

Thomas Brown, after the Revolution ended, removed 
from Barnstead and fell asleep at Stratham. 

William Lord. The stone at his grave is uninscribed. 
It is at the homestead on the Province road. 



1863 SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION. 119 

Joseph Sanborn, on his I'eturn from the war, went from 
the Province road to Maine, and is snpposed to have died 
there. 

Captain Joseph Kaime died at Somersworth, being 
there on a visit, and remains there . 

Samnel Eastman. His grave is withont marlc or 
inscription. 

Colonel Nathaniel Pease sleeps on the Moses Hodgdon 
farm, without any stone to designate his resting place. 

Robert Tebbets rests at his late homestead, near the 
Province road. 

Samnel Jenness lived near Lougee's pond. His grave 
is there, but cannot be traced. 

Ralph Hall lived on the Glidden farm. He died of 
sickness or was killed in the war. 

Joseph Huckins is in the Morrill bur3dng-ground, near 
Seward's hill. 

John Welch is on the Welch farm. There are no 
grave stones. 

Richard Sinclair left town about the year 1800. His 
resting place is unknown. 

Nathan Nutter was a brother of Ebenezer, lived at 
Jethro Nutter's, died in prison at Halifax, Nova Scotia, 
and remains there. 

Eli Ham was last seen somewhere in Gilmanton. 

John Pitman rests at the Pitman burying ground in 
Snackerty. 

Perry Ilixon is buried on Crockett's hill, at Locke's 
corner. 



120 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

Wiuthrop Ayevs rests from bis labors at his horaestearl 
in the Peacham neighborliood. 

John Aiken reposes beneath the white oaks on Jacob 
Aiken's farm. 

Avery, who resided on tlie Tliomas P. Ilodg- 

don farm, went, but never returned, from tlie war of the 
Revohition. 

William Hill is at rest on the homestead farm of Mr. 
Jefferson Emerson. 

Thomas Ayers served his country in this war, and now 
reposes on the Crockett liill place, at Locke's corner. 

James Harden served and returned, and was buried at 
" the Centre." 

Jonathan Emerson also returned, and rests on the 
homestead of Mr. J. Emerson. 

iSamuel Pitman also escaped the casualties of the 
Revolution, and now reposes at the homestead of a friend 
and relative, Samuel J. Pitman. 

" They sleep their last sleep— they have fought their last* battle. 
No foe shall awake them to glory again." 

Note. — We are indebted to the researches of our 
good friend, Mr. Samuel Winkley, through whose 
instrumentality our heroes of the Revolution from 
Barnstead have found a brief place in these annals, so 
that the venerable dust of at least some of them may not 
entirely vanish from the world, nor be forgotten \>y the 
advancing generations that follow them. Thanks to Mr. 
Winkley ; and thanks to our friend, Dr. J. Wheeler, who 
transmitted the materials for this record. 




iff KS . 

t ill! F s 



1863 WATER SUPPLY. 121 

PONDS AND RIVERS. 



Wlien the settlers first located their lots, the Indians 
had left and gone northward, and the names which they 
had given to ponds, lakes and rivers, were either lost or 
discarded b}' the white man, as he seemed to have had 
an antipathy to everything "• Indian." Yet the Suncook 
was seen in its beanty coursing its way, winding through 
a then dense forest of timber trees which covered the 
level surface of the town, as it glided onward towards the 
ocean. It still bears its original Indian name, Suncook, 
Avhich in the Indian language is said to mean the same as 
wild goose in English ; or, in its more extensive meaning, 
" the place where the wild goose rested." 

This river rises in Guilford, taking its waters from 
Gunstock and Grey-lock mountains in (Tilmanton, and 
conveying it through a valley until it reaches the pond ; 
thence through a narrow channel into the second Suncook 
pond ; thence passing along in its enlarged and l)eautiful 
fl)rm, adorning the vales and feeding the mills of Barn- 
stead. 

The ponds, save the two Suncooks, all took English 
names, to wit : " Half Moon," " Brindle," " Lougee," 
" Beauty," " Adams," " Wild Goose," and " Pinkham's," 
numbering nine in all. 

It is is to be regretted that the Suncook is about the 
onh^ original Indian name which now remains in Barn- 
stead of all the past ; and that we are entirely unable, 
even at this early day, to recall the past and to give to 
the coming generations the primeval names of these beau- 
tiful sheets of water. 

16 



122 HISTORY OF liARNSTEAD. l^CS 

The small streams that enter the Suneook river from 
various parts of Barnstead, are the Parade brook, Proctor's 
river, the Mill-stone brook, Walker's brook, Clark's brook, 
Branch river and Crooked run. Many of these streams 
take their rise from the ponds. After receiving these 
fountains, the Suneook passing on, empties its waters into 
the Merrimac at Pembroke. 

All the waters of the town are carried off b^' the Sun- 
cook, and as it passes on its way southerly it affords 
power to drive machinery, by which many citizens find 
business and employment, on the way as it goes. 

The drainage by the Suneook is so complete that it 
leaves no bogs nor meadows to emit pestilence or to gen- 
erate contagious diseases. 

To this cause in a great degree may be attributed the 
general good health and long lives incident to the inhab- 
itants of Barnstead. 



LOCALITIES. 



BEAUTY HILL. 

This name is given to that high rolling land in the 
northwestern part of the town. The soil is superior; 
formerly it sustained a heavy growth of oak, but under a 
successful cultivation it now sustains an intelligent, ener- 
getic class of farmers. The air here is salubrious. This 
elevation in a clear day affords a view of the silvery lake 



1863 LOCALITIES. 123 

(Winnipesaugee), northerly five miles distant, as well as 
a view of the whitened sails upon the ocean wave, away 
in the distance southeastward. Here the sun rises early 
and sets late, giving health and long life to its inhabitants. 
Near by and in sight are the Bluehills and Catamount ; 
farther off, yet still in view, are the White mountains and 
old Chocoiua. 

Chocokua ! oh, what clusters of historical incidents 
seem to rally around that name ! Pardon us, for a 
moment, if we digress from this narrative ! 

Chocorua (pronounced Chec-cor-ruah), was the last 
chief commanding the tribes of New Hampshire. He 
used to wander in these woods. His squaw died, and 
was buried by the brook-side where he had first found 
her. His little Indian boy still continued to follow at 
his heels, in this then wilderness. One day, at the house 
of one Campbell (a white settler), the boy got poisoned, 
and came home to the wigwam and died. Cliocorua 
thought he was poisoned purposely. 

Soon afterwards Campbell left home, and when at 
night he returned, his family were all dead in the house. 
A few days elapsed, and the white settlers followed Cho- 
corua into that mountain which now bears his name, and 
which stands al)out fifteen miles north of the lake, in 
Burton, now Albany. Campbell discovered him on the 
pinnacle of the mountain cliff, and comgianded him to 
jump off". " Ah," said the Indian, " the Great Spirit gave 
Chocorua his life, and he will not throw it away at the 
bidding of the white-man." Campbell shot him, and 
while dying he pronounced awful curses upon the 
English. 

In describino- that scene Mrs. L. Maria Child, in a 



124 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 



18G3 



vigorous legend, gives tlie words of Chocorua's curse 
thus : 

" ' A curse ou ye wliite-nieu ! May tlie Great Spirit 
curse ye when he speaks in the clouds and his words are 
fire ! Chocorua had a son ; and ye killed him when the 
sky look.d bright ! Lightnings blast your crops — winds 
and lire destroy your dwellings ! The Evil Spirit breathe 
death on your cattle ! Your graves lie in the pathway of 
the Indian ! Panthers howl and wolves fatten over your 
bones ! ' 

" The prophet sank upon tlie ground still uttering 
inaudible curses." They left his bones there. 

Ever since that day, the want of vegetation in and 
about that mouutain, all its dearths, and all the diseases 
upon the cattle and upon the inhabitants of that region, 
have been attributed to that curse of Chocorua. 

The faithfulness of Keoka, Chocorua's squaw, has been 
briefly celebrated in a verse, which we copy, inscribing 
it to the young mothers of Barn stead : 

" With truth and trust and patient pride. 
At morn, at noon, or eventide, 

she calmed the cloudy hour; 
Her heart was full of love and song. 
She cheered Chocorua's life along; 

She brought him many a flower. 

• 
"Such was the life Chocorua sought; 
Such were the charms Keoka brought. 

Unselfish, unpretending: 
Kings of tlie earth, I'd envy not; 
Give me to know Chocorua's lot. 

Such faith, such favor blending I " 

[Caverly^s Poems, vol. 2, p. 10.] 



1803 LOCALITIES. 125 

SNACKERTY. 

The extreme northeast part of Barustcacl at an 
earl}^ day took this name. It is a sort of an arctic, snowy 
region, which borders on the north of the Bhie hills in 
Stratford, and is near the line of that town. The hinds 
are of a snlphureons quality. Formerly (and perhaps 
now), snow shoes were quite common there. Whenever 
any of its inhabitants came to the centre of the town or 
to the Parade, it was called : '' Coming out." 

The first settlers in this locality, as it is said, were 
from Schenectady, New York ; if this be true, Snackerty 
may have been adopted as a corru})tion from that name. 



This is a fine field or plat of ground in the southwest 
part, made common to the puljlic through the numificence 
of Eli Bunker, one of the inhabitants of Barustead, whose 
genealogy is given elsewhere. A parade ground or train- 
ing field was one of the purposes for which this level lot 
of land was dedicated to the public, and " The Parade " 
has ever since been used as a name, indicating the end to 
which the gift was chiefly appropriated, and is sutficiently 
descriptive of that section of the town. 



This is a \nllage, on the Suncook, containing several 
stores, a church, a town-house, a postoflice and tavern. 
It is near the middle of the town, and is central as to 
business. 



126 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 18C3 

CLARK TOWN. 

This is in tlie southeast part of Barnstead, and takes 
its name from the great number of Clarks, intelligent and 
industrious, that inhabited that locality. 

TCTTLEBORO'. 

Between the Centre and Beauty Hill were several fam- 
ilies of Tnttles, all or nearly all descending from one 
Jolui Tnttle, an original settler. Hence it derived its 
name. Many of the Tnttles took wives from a Jacobs 
famil}^, who were also quite numerous. 

PEACHAM. 

This locality is in the north, but whether it took its 
name from that of individuals residing there, or from 
some other source, must at this time be left untold. 

LOCKe's CORNER. 

The northeast part takes this name. It had been first 
settled by one John Locke, and' has ever since been peo- 
pled for the most part by his descendants. 

NORTH BARNSTEAD. 

Here are a few stores, a church, a post office, and manj' 
dwelling houses. One of the main roads leading from 
Dover to Gilmanton passes through it, and more and more 
it becomes a thriving village. 

SOUTH BARNSTEAD. 

This is a place of considerable trade, and is favorably 
known for its thrifty farmers and fat cattle. 



18G3 ITS SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. 127 

ROADS AND RECORDS. 



"In 1786 a Petition to lay out a road from the 
province road to Bunker's Mill, was signed by 

" Richard Cinclair, Winthrop Colebath, SamuelJacobs, 

John Bickford, Aaron Chesley, Jacob Daniels, Samuel 

Avery, James Brown, Benjamin Nutter, Eliplialet Tib- 

betts, Samuel Drew, Jr., Dodovah Bunker, Joseph Bunker, 

-John Nutter, Jr." 

"The town voted to lay out a Rhode through John 
Bunker's land, where it formerly was to go, to Jo. 
Bunker's mill." 

1786. "At a public vendue holden at the inn of 
Charles Ilodgdon, 17th of May, for the sail of one cow 
taken by destraint from John Bunker, for his delinquency, 
in paying his part affixed, in money or labor, on the high- 
ways, and the articles of sail is such, that said cow be 
sold to the highest bidder for cash." 

"Joseph Tasker had her struck off to him for 1 £ 13s Od." 



ERECTION OF A MEETING-HOUSE, 

AND OTHER MATTERS. 



" 1788, May 25th. The town voted to build a meet- 
ing-house. 

" Voted, Capt. Drew, Col. Cinclair, Lew Mason, Ensign 



128 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

Evans, Kicholas DiuUe^', Thomas E^dgerly, John Tasker, 
Esquire, be a committee to agree on a place to build said 
meeting-house, and make a report to said town." 

" Voted, To give 3£ I)onnly on a hade of a gray wolf, 
and £1 10s on a hade for a whelp, caught within the bounds 
of the town." 

In the 3^ear 17H4 there was, as appears, a large sale of 
lots of land at public vendue, by reason of the non-pay- 
ment of State, County, and war taxes. 

In the year 1787 a petition for a road through North 
Barnstead to Dover was signed .by vSamuel B. Mason, 
Ebenezer Nutter, Israel Averv, William Green, Moses 
Avery, Benjamin Avery, and Samuel Avery. The road 
was commenced near half-moon pond. 

The meeting house last named having been erected as 
contemplated, it remained as finished up to the year 1830, 
when it was repaired and a stove placed in it. In build- 
ing the stone chimney, Joseph Bunker fell from the roof 
of the house and was killed. 

In 1858, the church being again out of repair, the pew 
holders relinquished their rights, and b^^ subscription pro- 
ceeded to make permanent improvements. 

The old pews were changed to slips and were modern- 
ized ; the porches were taken oti'; the main entrance was 
opened at the end of the house ; its windows were enlarged 
and improved ; and the general appearance of the structure 
underwent an entire change. 

In 1866 the house Avas again repaired, and improved 
by the erection of a tower on its westerly end, and b^^ 
placing in it a neat, fine-toned bell, of 1200 pounds. 



1863 SCHOOLS. 129 

This enterprise involved tlie expenditure of a consid- 
erable sum of money, even more, as it turned out, than 
could easily be raised in this small village. But, as fortune 
had it, Mrs. Temperance Jewett, then in her ninety-sixth 
year, was receiving a visit from her nephew, Hon. George 
Peabody, the London banker. He happening to see their 
financial difficulty, called upon the master workman of 
the house, and ascertaining that the sum of $450 would 
be the amount required, paid it over at once as a donation 
from his old aunt ; so that the widow's mite was made to 
complete the meeting-house. 

Mr. Peabody since then has gone to his last account. 

The church edifice i-emaius as it was when finished; 
and the venerable 'lady, at the age of more than one 
hundred years, " still lives" to hear, at least a few times 
more upon earth the sweet tones of that church-going 
bell, — coming as if to cite her upward and onward to 
that celestial a])ode, where dwells the immortal spirit of 
her faithful friend and patron. 



SCHOOLS 



1792, March 15. At a town meeting then held, — 
" Voted, To have Agents in each school district, to 

build a school-house in each district. 

" Chose Samuel Nelson, Dependence Colbath, Chas. 

Hodffdon." 



130 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 



18G3 



The disadvantages under which our first settlers 
labored in establishing their common schools were great. 
They had migrated from the old towns on thS seacoast, 
where most of them had been taught reading and writing 
and the rudiments of arithmetic. But now they were 
located in the wilderness ; their school-houses, if they 
had any, must necessarily be rude and far apart, exposing 
their children to the ravages of wild beasts that often 
lurked around their lonely cabins. To support a teacher 
for any considerable time could not, to them, be otherwise 
than extremely burdensome. Under such circumstances 
tlie faithful dog or the " old Queen's arms " were often 
depended on, in difficult emergencies. Thus were they 
situated at the beginning ; and up to the year 1784 each 
family acted as its owif teacher. Previously, the town, 
bv reason of adversity, had not voted to raise any money 
for the support of common schools. The Revolution had 
now but just terminated, — there was but little money, — 
" continental scrip " had become worthless, silver and 
gold had in a great degree fallen into the hands of the 
miser, — these and other attendant difficulties, delayed 
the progress of education in Barnstead. 

The first settled teacher employed by the town was 
had in 1784. His name was Cornelius Kirby. He was 
of Scotch descent ; had been educated in Scotland. At 
first he settled in Portsmouth, and thence came here, and 
became our first school master. 

His school was in a private house, there being then no 
school-house in Barnstead. 

This school was kept at Wm. Newall's. It was in the 
south part of the town. Newall atone time was an inn 
keeper. He afterwards lived in the west part, on the 



18G3 SCHOOLS. lai 

Province road, not far from the former residence of Di'. 
Adams and more recently Nathaniel Adams. 

" Master Kirby " had taiight school in Portsmonth. 
He was miildle ag-ed, thick set, rather short; his iiat, 
three cornered, buttoned. His shoes were of heavy 
leather, high cnt, and a large sized bntton of steel on 
the instep. His coat was rather of the long-jacket style 
with massive pockets ontside, and a standing collar. His 
breeches buckled snng at the knee, were of corduroy, 
his stockings long and inclined to the snnff color. His 
vest was of vast proportions, buttoned snug at the neck, 
and made of Ijlack and white wool. Snugly ensconced 
was his " bulls eye " under its right hand fold. His three 
cornered hat much of the time covered the glistening 
baldness of his pate, while his frosted locks gathered 
and tied in the rear, hung in a graceful queue, ornament- 
ing the collar of his coat, npon his spacious round 
shoulders. His pleasant and graceful bearing bespoke 
the trnthfulness of his early training, and his dialect 
indicated a nationality of which he was alwa3^s prond. 

His books were his Bible, arithmetic and spelling 
book. These, as property, were held dear to him, and on 
the fly-leaf of each was legibly written in coarse hand the 
following old conplet : 

" Cornelius Klrby is my name ; 
Scotland is my nation ; 
Barnstead my place of toil and fame, 
And Christ is my salvation." 

There are people still living who remember " Master 
Kirb}^" and who learned of him the rndiments of their 
early English. He for several years resided in Barnstead 
as a teacher, and then returned to Scotland. For one 



132 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAl). 1863 

term at least he had kept in the Ilodgdon District. 
Though sometimes petulent, ^'JVIaster Kirby" left behind 
him, for upriglitness of character and faithfulness in his 
moral and religious life, a name unblemislied. By him 
the boys of Barnstead had been trained to remove their 
hats, and the girls to drop a graceful courtesy on meeting 
their superiors at tlie school, or on the highway. Indeed, 
may we nsk, would it not be well to have, at least, a smat- 
tering of this sort of training for our girls and boys of the 
present daj' ? 

" Master Kirby," while here, resided most of the time 
on the Province road, near the place of INIajor John Nut- 
ter. The Major was an earl^- settler, and one of Kirby's 
intimate friends. Kirby at one time contemplated the 
building of a barn, and was contracting Avith Mr. Nutter 
to build it for him. The Major asked him for the dimen- 
sions of it. Kirby said he Avanted the posts sixty feet 
high, and the tie-up in the roof, so that there would be 
" no digging away of the manure." Nutter says to him, 
" HoAv will the cattle get up there?" "Oh! jabbers," 
says he, running his fingers through his hair, " that will 
be their lookout." 

The first record of money raised in town for school 
purposes, is found in the year 1785, when £30 were voted 
to that end. In 1792 the town voted an agent in each of 
five districts to build as many school-houses, within two 
years. 

Next, after the commencement of a school in the 
Nutter District, one was started at the Parade ; then one 
in the southeast section, and then one in the north. For 
several years thereafterwards, small appropriations were 



1863 SCHOOLS. 133 

made, not every year, but as the ability of the inhabitants 
would seem to warrant, to each of the then five districts. 

In 1800, or about that time, Barnstead had built five 
school honses. After this, a man was employed as a 
teacher in each of them, some two or three months in the 
year, mostly in the winter season, and a female teacher 
nearly as long in summer. And so it was, up to the year 
1817, when the school honses had increased to the num- 
ber of eleven. In these houses were taught at this time, 
English grammar, geography, arithmetic and sometimes 
Latin and Greek. 

The schools of that day, although supported with the 
utmost economy, were highly proficient, and it may well 
be doubted, if in that regard they would suffer in compar- 
ison with the schools of the present da}-. 

If we may judge from appearances, the country school 
boy of 1830 who attended school but four or five months 
in the year, obtained a better and more available fund of 
information than the scholar of 1870 who attends school 
the year round. 

The text books then used needed, as it would seem to 
us, little or no change. Murray's Grammar, English 
Reader, Adams's Aritlnnetic, the Columbian Orator, and 
Webster's Spelling Book were in use. most of them at 
least, for more than a quarter of a century. They are 
now among the things that were. Yet to us it is quite 
doubtful if the books now. used instead of them are any 
better. Too often it is that boys and girls of the present 
day graduate from school having but little knowledge of 
the world, or of human nature, without any suitable train- 
ing for the daily duties, economies and courtesies neces- 
sary for marriage relations ; and oftentimes almost entirely 



134 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAU. 



1803 



deficient in practical good manners, such as all ought to 
have in order to insure faithfulness, industrj', economy 
and a general good will to the generations as they shall 
come and go. 

It has been intimated that a graduate of a high school 
at the present day has less of practical knowledge, and far 
less of practical good manners than the boy with a short 
Jacket of 1817, who had woiked his way to manhood 
through the dearth stricken, dreary winters of that time. 
Be that as it may, let us say to the inhabitants of Barn- 
stead : Be economical, but build your school houses nice, 
convenient and warm. Plant thrifty shade trees all 
around them, permanently boxing and protecting them : 
make them indeed welcome dwelling places for your de- 
scendants. Go further : always raising as much money 
as you can possibl}^ afford, for the support of your schools. 
Go still further : be always in the hal)it, from time to 
time, as your means will allow, of storing your dwelling 
houses with useful books, each farmer taking pride in his 
own lil)rary at home. Do this faithfully and ardently — 
and what shall be the result? In less than ten years your 
best boys shall begin to stay at home. No more, no 
longer will they wander abroad for an education or to 
seek a livelihood elsewhere. Stay at home they will — 
not because of any necessity, but because in that home 
there is a fountain of intelligence, as well as endearments 
of early scenes and parental love. Thus j^our farming 
community will be made up of the best blood of your 
town. Your spacious farms, from year to j^ear, will 
greatly improve, affording ample encouragement to the 
husbandman, whereby all the expenses of a thrifty gen- 
eration, as well as what is now called the burden of tax- 



1863 SCHOOLS. 135 

ation, will be easily and cheerfully paid. Let it be borne 
in mind, that every intelligent lad or lass, wlio can be in- 
duced to remain at houie, and who earns more than his or 
her living, is a source of wealth to Barnstead. 

Then, don't allow your best men, who have large ftim- 
ilies, to leave town, for the want of ample facilities to 
school their children. Have a care for all this. Adhere 
to it generously, energetically, and religiously, and in the 
future years you shall see its effects in the countenances 
of the coming generations. You shall see it in your old 
age, and look back upon what you have done with a sweet 
composure of spirit. You shall feel the effect of a work 
thus well done, in every finger of the hand, in every toe 
of the foot, and in every vein through which the blood of 
your Jioble manhood shall course. You shall hear of it 
from abroad. 

Your neighboring towns, less wise, and less energetic, 
shall send here for their teachers. Your counties shall 
come here to obtain their judges and other noble and im- 
portant ofiicers. Your gallant state shall, to a great 
extent, depend on Barnstead for its governors. Nay, do 
just this, and almost every other good thing shall follow 
it. Other towns shall profit by your example ; your sons, 
us they " rise up shall call you blessed," and when you 
are far away, they will award to you a noble history — a 
history second to none, save that which records the valor, 
the faithfulness, and the endurance of your noble ances- 
tors. 



136 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

MARRIAGES. 



1777, Samuel Nelson was married to Abigail Ting- 
ley, January 3, by Rev. William Parsons. 

1777. Jonathan Jacobs was married in April to Han- 
nah Black, by Rev. Peletiah Tingley. 

1777. Samuel Williams was married to Sobriety Bunk- 
er, by Rev. William Parsons. 

1777. Bradbury Cinclair was married to Sarah Bunk- 
er, by Rev. William Parsons. 

1777. Henry Tibbets was married to widow Sarah 
Cinclair, by Rev. William Parsons. 

1776. John Drew was married to Lois Tasker, by 
John Tasker, Esq. 

1778. Benjamin Nutter was married to Mercy Task- 
er, by Joseph AdaiBS of ^^ewington. 

1779. Benjamin Hawkins was married to Susan 
Bunker, by Rev. William Parsons. 

1779. Moses Avery was married to Elizabeth Col- 
bath, by Rev. Joseph Buckminster. 

1781. Benjamin Nutter was married to Mary Walker, 
by Rev. Joseph Adauis. 

1784. Jethro Nutter was married to Polly Elliott. 

1784. John McDuffee was married to Lois Tasker. 

1807. Abraham Bunker was married to Polly Cin- 
clair, by Rev. Enos George. 

1807. Nathan Collins was married to Ruth Chesley, 
by Rev. Enos George. 

1808. Eliphalet Nutter was married to Lovey Lock, 
by Rev. Enos George. 



1863 ITS FIRST MILL. 137 

1805. Rev. Enos George was maiTied to Sophia 
Chesley of Dover, by Rev. Joseph Langdon. 

1805. Daniel Bunker was married to Lovey ■, 

by Rev. Enos George. 

1809. Joseph Piclcering was married to Polly Lyford, 
by Rev. P^nos George. 



" 1771. In New Market, Jonathan Kenniston. 
1772. lu Portsmouth, George Seward." 



BUNKER'S MILL 



John Bunker, from Dover, settled here about the year 
1769. His was the first grist mill. It was situated on 
the north side of " The Branch," — this at that time being 
the name of the Suncook river — and near a ledge. A 
plank walk was constructed, extending from the top of 
the ledge to the door of the mill. The building waslar^e 
and stood endwise to the stream. All the corn and 
grain centred here for many miles around ; and this mill 
aftbrded much profit to its owner, as well as to our thrifty 
3'eomanry, in the production of the best of meal and flour. 

Bunker was, himself, the miller, and his meal-covered 
coat, his boots, and the red knit cap which he wore, has 
been held in remembrance these many years. 

In the next place, he erected a saw mill, the first in 
Barnstead. This took the place of the axe, and was of 
great utility in shaping the lumber, as it came from the 



138 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 18G3 

forest, making it into timber, boards, &c., which were 
extensivel}^ used at home, as well as in foreign markets. 
At his decease, these mills, with occasional improvements, 
descended to his son Eli, and then to Timothy, and then 
to Abraham. The eternal years have wrought changes — 
the Bunkers "are not." Their mills are iiriudina; still. 



MAILS. 



The first mail was brought into Barnstead by one 
Bragg, on horseback, on his route from Dover to Ply- 
mouth, a distance of sixty-five miles. His saddle-bags 
contained oats for his horse, as well as the news of the 
day. Sometimes he used but three pints of oats in the 
whole distance. One day Bragg was interrogated thus : 
" How did 3'ou get along in using so few oats?" " Ah !" 
said he, " I dealt them out with discretion." 

The first postmaster in Barnstead was Charles Hodg- 
don, Jr. His office was kept in his private house, on the 
Province road. 

In 1808 another mail route was established. The driver 
carried it in saddle-bags and on horseback. It started 
from Gilmanton Ironworks on Mondaj's, and returned on 
Tuesdays of each week. 

On this route the first mail carrier was John S. Shan- 
non of Gilmanton. His wife was a daughter of Moses 
Rand. His saddle-bags were full of newspapers — none, 
however, could obtain papers other than subscribers. At 
first the New Hampshire Patriot was the only paper. After- 



1803 MAILS. . 139 

wards the New Ilampshife Statesman made its appearance. 
At the winding of the liorn, crowds would cluster around 
Shannon to learn the news — the old saddle-bags would be 
unstrapped, and the news, foreign, domestic and political, 
would be nnfolded. Subscribers were supplied for the 
week, and a newspaper was regarded as one of the great 
luxuries of the age. Shannon, independent of his papers, 
was well versed in what was going on from abroad ; he 
always had great news for the crowtl, and a good word for 
all who came to make inquiries. 

After a while the mail route was extended from Dover 
to Concord, through Barnstead, when Shannon, instead 
of going on horseback, droA^e a horse and wagon. News- 
papers began to increase. The New Hampshire Patriot, 
edited by Isaac Hill, continued to be the principal political 
medium by which the democracy of Barnstead were edu- 
cated and trained. Shannon also acted as our first ex- 
press man in the transmission of the mails and newspa- 
pers, and in the doing of errands, and sometimes carried 
a passenger. John I. Tuttle, Samuel G. Berry and 
others, were the successors of Shannon in this business. 

At Barnstead Centre, a second post office was soon af- 
terward established, with John Peavey as postmaster. 
Another, also, was started at North Barnstead, of which 
S. G. Webster was the keeper. 



THE STAGE COACH. 



The first coach was started here May 23, 1823, and 
run from Portsmouth to Meredith Bridge, up one day and 



140 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 18G3 

Gown the next. It was drawn by four horses ; provisions 
were made for them on the way by the shareholders. The 
name of the driver was Bean. When it started off the 
road was lined with men and boys to witness its exit, and 
cheered it at the crack of the whip, when the first mud 
turned up to bespatter its polished wheels. It was, in- 
deed, a novelty in Barnstead to see a coach drawn by 
four horses, winding over the hills and at the speed of 
seven miles an hour. The same stage route is con- 
tinued to this day, varying the route only by touching 
at the Parade, and passing around by tlie way of Pitts - 
field. Other mail and passenger routes have since been 
opened to meet the railroad cars at Alton Bay, and at 
Concord. A railroad is now opened to Pittsfield. Its 
steam whistle reverberates along the valley of the Sun- 
cook, and it is hoped one Avill sooner or later find its way 
within the lines of Barnstead in such form as to super- 
sede the stage coach in that locality almost altogether. 



THE SOCIAL LIBRARY. 



This was incorporated in 1807, under the aame of the 
" Barnstead Social Library." It at first contained about 
three hundred volumes, all in good, strong binding. Its 
Avorks were miscellaneous, historical, biographical, poeti- 
cal and religious. Whether this Town Library ,%hich had 
so good a beginning, has of late been replenished and 
enlarged, or not, we are unable to state. If it has not, 
we most fervently pray that it may be. 



1863 WAR. 141 



WAR OF 1812. 



When this war broke out, a recruiting officer, by the 
name of Neall}'-, a sergeant from the regular army, 
came to Barnstead, and opened an office. His only 
assistant was a youth by the name of Grant. Grant 
was skilful on the violin in playing the " vSoldier's 
Joy" and " Yankee Doodle." His music, which inspired 
the rustic dances in that recruiting service, is well re- 
membered. To facilitate this enterprise, the enrolled 
militia company was called out at the Parade. They 
formed in front of the church, were drilled, and at 
length were drawn up into line — were applauded and 
treated copiously. Sergeant Neallj', b}- permission, then 
advanced and addressed them thus : 

" Fellow soldiers, attention ! It alfords me the high- 
est gratification to witness the discipline and good order 
in this large and noble company of citizen soldiers. The 
town of Barnstead has reason to be proud of her defend- 
ers. Fellow soldiers ! Your beloved country is engaged 
in a bloody war with Great Britain ; we must, as valiant 
patriots, go forth to maintain her honor and support her 
flag. Will you help in this crisis? All those who will 
volunteer in their country's cause will, at the word march, 
advance three paces to the front. Forward, march !" 

All eyes were upon the officer ; but not a soldier moved. 
At length, old Wiggins Jacobs, although a little lame, 
hobbled to the front, with measured step, gun erect, and 
with a determined visage, just as if he meant war. 



142 HISTORY OF DARXSTEAD. 1863 

The uniform of this recruit was rather of the oriental 
style. His long coat was of the swallow-tail fashion, and 
out a little at the elbows ; his boots were short, not quite 
meeting the legs of his pants at the knee. His fire-lock, 
without a flint, was somewhat laden with rust. And his 
old slouched hat was minus about one half of its brim. 

Still, our hero was the observed of all observers. He 
stood forth as the champion, on whom Barnstead was to 
depend, in that bloody war. B}^ the determination of his 
countenance and the flash in his e3'e, all were given to 
understand tliat John Bull and his hosts were not long to 
remain upon these shores — that in the face of such valor, 
Britain would be nowhere. 

The gallant recruiting officer, although well pleased 
with the valor evinced in this instance, was not quite 
satisfied with the numerical strength which his patriotic 
eloquence had called forth. 

He, however, rallied a second time, in a different man- 
ner, and at length had no difficult}^ in obtaining his requi- 
site number of recruits, who gallantly represented Barn- 
stead in that war. 

SOLDIERS OF 1812. 

Among the men who served were : 
Capt. John Peave}', John Kaime, 

Jeremiah Davis, Chandler Peavey, 

Franklin Cheslej-, Silas Bunker, 

Dearborn Bunker, Timothy Bunker, 

Paul Ct. Hoit, James Davis, 

Joseph Foye, Gardner T. Barker, 

Jonathan Rand, John Place, 

Winthrop Rand, Weutworth Rand, 

Thurston Conner. 



1863 WAR. 143 

Of the above soldiers, Franklin Chesley served near 
the lines of Canada, and died in the service. He was the 
son of Jonathan Cheslej', was a man of much culture. 
He left a wife and one child. T. Bunker, who served in 
the same company, returned. He was a son of John, and 
is said to have been a great mimic and wit, Hoit served 
on the northern frontier, but whether he fell there or not 
we are not informed. He was a lieutenant. 

On the frontier, Barn stead was well represented b}^ its 
" regulars," and on the seacoast by its militia. Captain 
John Peavey, with a company of militia, was stationed 
for some months at Fort Constitution, in Portsmouth. 
Joseph Foye was in several battles, was wounded, but af- 
terwards lived to a good old age. Jonathan and Win- 
throp Rand were on the frontier, but neither returned. 
Kaime served as a sergeant. He never returned. Chand- 
ler Peavey served on the frontier and returned. He was 
in several battles. S. Bunker was among the enlisted, 
served through the war, and returned home unharmed. 
Gardner T. Barker, h. at Lee, who married Martha W. 
Huntoon of Gilmanton, served, returned, and afterwards 
resided a considerable time in Barnstead. Thomas E. 
Barker, Colonel of the 12th N. H. Regiment in the rebel- 
lion, was his son. John Place was a son of Joseph, of 
the Revolution. Thurston Conner died at Barnstead 
July 13, 1872, aged 85. 

'• Of God-like man 1 — if thus he e'er appears, 
'Tis when his truth outlives declining years. 
Who ventures all in strength of youth or age, 
In deeds divine, his energies engage ; 
Who with one hand sustains a falling brother, 
* Yet grasps his country's tlag firm in the other; , 

To flaunt its folds on freedom's towering height, 
Ue onward bears it, battling for the right." 

[Caverli/''s Merrimac,p, 73.] 



144 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

MEXICAN WAR. 

Nicholas Kenison served there. He was a brave sol- 
dier, but was killed in battle. 

Alfred T. Munsey, also served in the Mexican war. 
He returned uninjured, and afterwards served as an officer 
aaiainst the rebellion. 



LAWYERS 



Since the year 1825, Barnstead has given to lawyers 
but little support. Previously, w'hen lumbering was the 
chief employment of laborers, Avhen the products of the 
forest and the wages of laborers were low, and when New 
England rum was a common beverage, it was then that 
the traders in merchandise would entangle the lumbermen 
in long lists of credits, and before they were aware of the 
danger, the law would begin to be enforced upon them. 

It "was not uncommon for a neighboring lawj^er to 
issue half a dozen writs against one debtor. The deputy 
sheriff having them in charge would then come to Barn- 
stead and proceed to attach his real estate and put all his 
personal property' under the care of a keeper. On a 
forced sale the property, in some instances, would not be 
more than enough to cancel the costs of suit ; and then 
the farmer's real estate would be subjected to an oppres- 
sive mortgage or his body to a disgraceful imprisonment. 
Such were some of the results of the law as administered 
by the country lawyers fifty years ago. 



1S63 LAWYERS. 145 

In these times, as appears, there is in the law a dilter- 
ent practice. The debtor has rights, as well as the cred- 
itor. A man's homestead is usually protected, and his bod}-, 
for debt, is seldom arrested or imprisoned. In this, the 
lapse of half a century has wrought an important im- 
provement. 

« Caleb Merrill, Esq., was the first lawyer settled, and 
iu practice, in Barnstead. His ofHce was at the Parade. 
He was from Chester, and commenced practice here in 
1811. He was a man less disposed to obtain riches than 
to impart professional advice gratuitously. He never en- 
ticed his clients into ha.stj- litigation, but proved true to the 
honor of his calling, in cooling the passions of the con- 
tending parties, and in bringing them to amicable settle- 
ments. 

Mr. IMerrill was a good citizen, a sound lawyer, and 
commanded a respectable business. In 1819 he removed 
to Pittsfield, where he resided until his death. He left a 
widow and children. 

ISAAC O. BARNES, ESQ. 

Mr. Barnes commenced practice herein 1822. He was 
a graduate of Middlebur^^ College, and had been a law stu- 
dent from the office of Titus Brown, Esq., of Fran- 
cestown. He was a native of Bedford. In form Mr. 
Barnes was tall, and when first at Barnstead was thin 
and in slender health ; but the change of place and the 
coming in to a more invigorating atmosphere, soon im- 
parted to his countenance a more healthy hue, and restored 
him to vigorous health. The lady wdiom he afterwards 
married, was a sister to Gov. Woodbury ; and being a 
democrat, he sought and obtained of the government va- 



14G HISTORY OF BAUNSTEAI). 18G3 

rions offices, which from time to time he hekl uutil his 
deuth. He practised hxw in Banisteud about nine years, 
and tlien went to Lowell, Mass. In 1833 he removed to 
Boston, and very soon was appointed Naval Agent for that 
port. Afterwards, under the Bankrupt act of that time 
he was made Commissioner for Massachusetts. At one 
time he held the office of United States Marshal at Bos- 
ton, and for a time was President of the Lafayette Bank, 
and at last obtained the office of United States Pension 
Agent at Boston, and continued in that position until 
his death. 

While in practice Mr. Barnes resided in a 'cottage at 
South Barnstead, but cared less for the law than for 
politics ; was always cheerful arid happy — enjoyed 
the society of his friends — took an active part in all 
good works, except temperance, and was usual!}' full of 
wit and sarcasm. 

At Boston he boarded at the Bromlleld House for 
many years. His evenings were mostly spent with a 
circle of listeners, deeply' entertained Avith his fund of 
amusing anecdotes. One of his jokes has been poetized 
as follows : 

NO PRECEDENT. 

•' A jolly old fellow was Isaac O. B.. 
Very large, very fat, very fond of a spree. 
Very foud of his glass, very fond of a smoke, 
lint fonder by far, than all these, of his joke. 

To a political b;iibecue Isaac once went. 
And with other good fellows the day gaily spent. 
In eating and drinking, which did not agree 
With the spacious interior of Isaac O. Ji. 

Yet on arriving at home and going to bed, 
With stomach o'erloaded, and very light head, 
He was soon taken ill, and was so short of breath. 
That he thought he was called by the grim angel. Death. 



1863 ISAAC O. BARNES, ESQ. 147 

So he sent for a doctor, renowned for his skill, 
Who, hearing that Isaac was ftitally ill. 
Did not tarry a moment, but unto him sped. 
And found the old gentleman groaning in bed. 

With feet very hot, and his face very red, 
/ And crying out. surely, " I soon shall be dead." 

"Ohl nonsense!— pooh— pooh I" said the skilful 51. I)., 
Your case is not hopeless, my dear Mr. B. 

" In fact 'tis quite simple. The cause is quite plain. 
And you'll soon be as right as a trivet again." 
'• No, doctor," groaned Isaac, " I'm stricken by death. 
He's got me now, sure — oh ! I haven't got breath 

To tell how I suifer." " Oh ! come now, sir, come," 
Said the doctor; 'tis plain you must suffer some. 
But your pulse is not high, you'll come to no harm. 
For no man ever died, with his feet like your's, w.vk.-m." 

" I know of a case," gasped Isaac O. B., 

So your statement does not at all reassure me ; 

I know of a man. and his name I'll repeat, 

John Rogers, the martyr — he died with warm feet." 

One other story of tliis hero will finish our account 
of him. 

At the time when President Jackson removed the de- 
posits from the old United States Bank, the Lafaj'ette 
Bank in Boston had been recently chartered, with Isaac 
as President. It became, among others, what was then 
called a pet bank, which, by the government, was regarded 
a much safer institution in which to deposit the public 
moneys, than the old United States Bank, which was 
then called a monopoly. Consequently nearly a million 
of dollars from the government fell into this bank for safe 
keeping ; the old bank, which had been the medium, and 
which had sustained the merchants of the country was to 
be crushed out, and consequently the merchants of Bos- 
ton, many of them, at least, must necessarily tail and 
come to want. 



148 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 18G3 

III a little time the financial affjiirs of the countiy be- 
came unsettled, merchants began to tremble in their boots, 
and at length the financial trouble was seen coming, as it 
soon did come, with a crash. 

Many of these merchants were the political friends of 
Isaac, and when their distress came they applied to his 
bank for relief, and true as the stor^^ goes, through his ten- 
der mercies they did not apply in vain ; they were sustained. 

This crisis came in 1837-8, and thereupon the govern- 
ment had occasion to send a committee to this bank to 
investigate its standing and to count up its thousands 
that had been deposited there. 

When the Committee arrived Isaac, the President, re- 
ceived them in his usual manner with jovial good cheer ; 
and after hearing as they did many of his best anecdotes, 
the Committee cautiously informed him of their business, 
and desired him to pilot them in investigating the affairs 
of tlie Bank. 

He welcomed them to the Bank, and appeared happy iu 
the extreme. But says he : " Gentlemen, I'll give ye the 
ke3's, I hope you will be successful. I've tried long to 
ferret out this matter. If 3^ou can find any money there, 
3'ou'll do better than I can." 

An investigation of several days was had — the Commit- 
tee returned home about as wise as they came — the de- 
posits were gone, and all the bills had become worthless, 
consequently their favorite Bank at once came to an end. 

Moses Norris, Esq. He was a graduate from "Dart- 
mouth" in 1828, studied law with Isaac O. Barnes, and in 
1832 became his successor in practice at Barnstead. 
Norris was a good scholar, a well-read lawyer, and stood 
high in the profession, although much of the time was de- 



1863 LAWYERS. 149 

voted to politics and other matters. In 1834 he removed 
to Pittsfield, his native town, and opened an office. 
There he became one of its representatives, and was 
speaker of the House of Representatives in the years 
1840-41. Afterwards he was chosen a Representative to 
Congress, and in 1850 was elected by the Legislature 
United States Senator. He afterwards removed to Man- 
chester, where he resided until his death in 1858. He was 
rather slack in his business habits, seemed unambitious, 
3et he was honest and generous to a fault. He left a 
widow and three children, but as yet no stone marks the 
place where he rests. His son in the rebellion took sides 
with the confederac}^ and served as a soldier in the rebel 
army • 

Jeremiah Elkixs, Esq. In 183G Mr. Elkius came to 
Barn stead, where he resided until his decease in 1845. 
He was a graduate of Bowdoin College, and of the class 
of 1820. He spent the first years of his professional life 
in Washington, D. C, and in a successful practice. Leaving 
there he opened an office in Laconia, where he continued 
for some time previous to his removal to Barnstead. At 
his decease he left a widow, and two daughters by a former 
marriage. 

Albert E. Hodgdox, Esq., was born here, read law 
with Mr. Norris and Judge Perley, practised some time 
in Barnstead, and died here in 1847. He was the son of 
Charles Hodgdon, Esq. 

Benjamin WI^^vLEy, Esq., was the son of Benjamin 
Winkley, Senior. He practised law in Barnstead from 
1847 to 1849. 

Charles Smith George, Esq., being educated to the 
law was admitted to the bar in 1845. He however pre- 



150 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

ferrecl agriculture to the business of the forum, and is now 
engaged in that most healthful and interesting employ- 
ment. He was a son of Rev. Enos C4eorge, and indeed 
" is a chip of the old block." In truth we may say of 
him, he is a good lawyer, a ready speaker, and an honest 
farmer. His wife Almira, was the daughter of Zechariah 
Boody Waldron, who was a descendant of the famous 
Major Waldron, who was slain at Dover, b^' the Indians, 
on the night of June 27, U!.sO. 

His son, Enos George, Jr., has contributed nmcli by 
way of encouraging the publication of this history, and his 
generous kindnesses will long be remembered by its 
editor. 

Charles R. Rogers, Esq., was admitted to the bar in 
1818. lie practised law here about two years. His office 
was at the Centre. He left town some time in the year 
1850. 

H. B. Leavitt, Esq., practised law in Barnstead in the 
years 1853-4. In 18G1 he enlisted in the 7th Regt. N. H. 
Vols., and afterwards was appointed to the command of a 
company. At the charge on Fort Wagner, Charleston, 8. 
C, he fell at the head of his company. He was a brave 
officer. 

the law. 

Reason and the experience of the past would seem to 
teach that law was not made so much for the honest as for 
the depraved. Such have been the improvements in Barn- 
stead, of late, in brotherly kindness, temperance, and fair 
dealing, that at this time no lawj'er appears to be needed 
in this locality. Confident we are that its honest 3'eomanry 
have appropriated to themselves a sufficient knowledge of 



18G3 



PHYSICIANS. 151 



the law, at least so far, as to be admoiiished to keep out of 
it, and to avoid its penalties. However : 

" We must not make a scare-crow of tlie law, 
Setting it up to fear the birds of prey. 
And let it keep one shape till custom make it 
Their perch and not theij- terror." 

[ShaJ:es2}enre.] 



PHYSICIANS. 



Dk. Joseph Adams, was our first physician. He was 
an original permanent settler. He was a son of Rev. 
Joseph Adams, of Newington, was born in 1727, and was 
educated at Harvard. His father had schooled hiin for 
the ministry, but the son preferred physic rather than the- 
ology. In 1792 he came to Barnstead and settled on the 
Province road, near Gilmanton line, on a farm owned by 
his father. It was an elevated location, overlooking 
Beauty Pond. His wife was Joanna Oilman, daughter of 
Major Ezekiel Gilman, of Exeter. 

Dr. Adams was quite advanced in age when he settled. 
His farm pleased him and he continued to reside here to 
the end of his days. 

His children were Ezekiel Oilman, Joseph, Ebenezer, 
Dudley, John, Benjamin, Nathaniel, and two daughters, 
Betsey and Abigail ; the one married John and the other 
William Janvrin, both of Seabrook, in 1784. These Jan- 
vrin families are now numerous in Newbuiyport and vici- 
nity. One of the boys, Joseph A. Janvrin, a name-sake of 
Dr. Adams, has been a sea captain, is now in trade, and 



152 HISTORV OF BARXSTEAD. 18G3 

resides in the city of Lo^vell. Tlie descendants of Dr. 
Adams are some of them, at least, intermingled by marriage 
with the Hodgdon family. The^' at this day are qnite 
unni(ii"ons and are generally much respected. Rev. Jolm 
G. Adams of Lowell, is one of them. 

Of Dr. Adams we read the following from the Diary of 
John Adams, late President of the United States, wherein 
he refers to him thus : 

" June, 1771. — At Tilton's in Portsmouth, I mot with 
my cousin Joseph Adams, whose face I was once as glad 
to see, as I should have been to see an angel. The sight 
of him gave me a new feeling. When he was at College 
he used to come to Braintree with his brother Ebenezer. 
How I used to love him? He is broken to pieces with 
rheumatism and gout now ; to what cause is his ruin to be 
ascribed?" 

Dr. Jeremiah Jewett, Sr., was from Rowley, Mass., 
came in the j^ear 1792, being then a young man. Pre- 
viously he had taken a circuit to the great lake, to Wolfi?- 
boro' and to Merideth, with the view of settling in that 
neighborhood. But on his return he accepted a cordial 
invitation, which had some' time before been extended to 
him to make Barnstead his home. The contrast between 
the old county of Essex, his former place of residence, and 
this then new place with its sparse population, its bad 
roads, and with its otherwise discouraging aspects, was 
very great. Yet a spirit of enterprize pervaded the people ; 
they were about to erect a church and promised many 
other irapi'ovements. He found a boarding place on the 
high ground near the Mill, at the house of John Bunker, 
and at once commenced the business of his profession ; 
Avhich soon extended beyond Barnstead into Acton, Bar- 
rington, and other towns. His mode of conveyance was 



1863 PHYSICIANS. 153 

on horse-back, carrying medicines in saddle-bags. In 
1795 he purchased five acres of land, bordering on the 
Parade, lying on each side of the brook ; and thereupon 
built a dwelling house. This was the second house erected 
at the Parade, the first being Ben. Ilodgdon's, the same 
now owned by Samuel Kaime. 

Dr. Jewett married Temperance Dodge, of Rowley. 
For a quarter of a century he was the only ph3'sician in 
Barnstead. lie had received his education at the common 
schools and at Dummer Academy, in Newbury, and had 
studied medicine with Doctors Torrey and Spottbrd of 
E.owle3^ Like many other ph3-siciaus he was fond of 
making long visits, never in a hurry, delighted in conver- 
sation, was rather slack in his habits, and had little or no 
determination to accumulate property. 

In stature he was five feet ten inches, thick set, dark 
complexion, his hair tinged with gray, was quick in his 
gait and in his manner of speaking. He had served a few 
months in the army of the Revolution, under Gen. Wash- 
ington, and at one time was a guard over the prisoners 
then quartered at Cambridge. His house at Barnstead 
was quite central ; the selectmen often held their meetings 
in it ; and from this circumstance he was approbated a tav- 
erner. Consequently he had a large saving-sign painted 
blue ; on this was the picture of a dolphin, with a spear 
aimed at it, and under it were the words " Catch a Dol- 
phin ;" on the other side was the picture of an anchor and 
under it were the words " Cast Anchor," 

"Jeremiah Jewett, 1799." 

The design of this inscription was impressive ; intend- 
ed perhaps to induce the traveller to " cast anchor" and 
turn in to partake of the repast then about being prepared 
for him. 20 



154 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

The Doctor was surgeon of the 10th Regt. for many 
years. On paratle days he wore a cockade and was 
equipped with a sword. He alwa^'s had the most intimate 
rehxtions with Parson George. On tliis account, at his 
decease, Mr. George declined to take part in the funeral 
exercises, but took a seat in the midst of the mourners. 

Dr. Jewett died at the old homestead in the year 1836, 
April 22, aged 79. He left three children, Spofford D., a 
clergyman, Jeremiah P., a physician, Jjine, wife of Hazen 
Wheeler, Esq., each having a family. His widow still sur- 
vives him, being one hundred years old the 4th day of 
April, 1872. 

Dr. Noah J. T, George. Dr. George settled at the 
Parade in 1822. He was a democrat, and aside from pro- 
fessional practice he wrote for the press and published a 
life of Gen. Jackson, a Gazetteer of the State of Vermont, 
and a small book entitled " Multum in Parvo," and others. 
His wife was a daughter of William Ayers. He died of a 
lingering disease of the spine in 1849. One son and one 
daughter survived him. 

Dr. Simon P. Woodward. Commenced practice at 
Centre Barnstead in 1824. He was well-read, was ener- 
getic and had a good business here. About the year 1836 
he removed to New Market. He died in 1854 leaving 
children. 

Dr. William Grover. Settled at the Centre where he 
had an extensive practice, was a leader in the church, 
represented the town in the State Legislature, and was a 
member of the State Medical Society. In the sick cham- 
ber his kind word and cheerful countenance failed not to 
inspire a salutary hope in the hearts of his otherwise weary 
and desponding patients. He died suddenly in 1853 of 



18G3 PHYSICIANS. 155 

an abscess on the liver. His wife, who was a Miss N. P. 
Taylor, of Hampton, and one daughter, survived him. The 
town deeply mourned his loss. 

Dr. Charles Whittle. Commenced business in the 
south part of the town in 1830. He previousl}' had had 
some practice elsewhere, but continued here but aboul two 
years ; he then left for some other field of labor. 

John Wheeler, M. D. Was born in Barnstead, Sept. 
15, 1828 ; was grandson of Dr. Jewett, Sr. He fitted for 
college at Gilmanton Academy, and graduated at Dart- 
mouth College in 1850, studied medicine with Dr. J. P. 
Jewett, of Lowell, Mass., and with C. T. Beri}^, of Pitts- 
field, N. H,, attended Medical Lectures at Bowdoin, Bos- 
ton, and Berkshire Medical Schools, and graduated at the 
latter in 1852. 

He immediately succeeded Dr. Grover in Barnstead, 
where he has been in practice ever since, with the excep- 
tion of four years at Pittsfield, and a while in the army. 
Many medical students, more than twenty, have pursued 
their studies, either a part or the whole of the usual term, 
under his direction. 

Dr. William Walker. Was the son of Joseph A. 
Walker. He graduated at Jefferson College, and died at 
Barnstead in 1855. 

Dr. George W. Garland. Was a medical student at 
Bowdoin and graduated from there in 1837. He studied 
medicine also with Dr. - Dixi Crosby at Hanover, and 
commenced practice at North Barnstead, at which place he 
continued up to 1848, a skillful practitioner, and in a suc- 
cessful business. Since then, as ever, he has prospered 
with an extensive practice, residing in the city of Law- 
rence, Mass. 



156 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

Dr. Mark Walker. Graduated in 1854, and settled 
in the nortli part of Barustead. He still continues liis 
practice in this and the neighl)oring towns, and proves to 
be one of Barnstead's best pliysicians. 

Dr. Bettox W. Sargent. Resided here in practice 
from 1848 to 1853, and then went to the far West. During 
the Eebellion he served as a surgeon on the staff of Major 
General Thomas. He read with Dr. Knight of Franklin, 
and now resides at Eochester, N. H. His wife was the 
daughter of Dr. Farrington, of Rochester, formerly a 
member of Congress. 

Dr. Albert G. Weeks. Resided in practice at North 
Barustead in the year 1851 and up to 1853. He had been 
a student at Dartmouth and at Harvard College, was a 
gentleman and a scholar. He died in 1853. 

Dr. Alvin Jenkins, was an M. D., from Dartmouth in 

1862, opened an office at Centre Barnsteal in 1863. He 
removed to Great Falls, N. H., where he now remains in 
business. 

Dr. S. S. Wentwortii. From Dartmouth College in 

1863, practised in his profession at Centre Barustead in 

1864, and then left aud settled in EUenburg, New York. 
Dr. jERE:MiAn Blake, once a student at the medical 

school at Yale College, resided and practised medicine 
here at the Parade, about two years. In 1862 he removed 
to Gilmanton Iron-works, where he still remains. 

While at Barustead he married Mrs. Elkins, the daugh- 
ter of Abram Bunker. The* Doctor for a while was in the 
ministry with good success, and whether as a physician or 
a divine he has ever proved himself industrious, prompt 
and efficient in every good word and work. 

Dr. Dana Buzzell commenced here about the year 
1839, but did not remain. 



1803 PHYSICIANS. 157 

Dr. John P. Elkins also practised here from 1844 to 
1848. 

Dr. James Emerson, a native of Barnstead, and a 
graduate of Dartmouth Medical School, was in the prac- 
tice of his profession at the Centre from 1858 to 1862. 
Since then he has practised in New Ipswich, N. H., in 
Ashby, Mass., in Claremont, Minnesota, in Pittsfield, N. 
H., and last of all in Gardner, Mass. Thus having 
connected his practice with the geography of his country, 
the Doctor now remains steadfast and is doing a spacious 
business. 

GRADUATES. 

The following is a list of College Graduates who are 
natives of Barnstead, and who have located themselves in 
different sections of the United States : 

Spofford D. Jewett, Eev. (now of Middlefield, Conn.), 
was the first college graduate. He preferred the minis- 
try, and after preaching the gospel thirty-six years, in 
1866 retired by reason of declining health, thereafter 
preaching onl}^ occasionally. 

George F. George, son of Rev. Enos, studied medicine 
in Georgia, settled in Shady Valley, Ga., where he still 
resides. 

Franklin T. Ilarwood, a graduate of the Harvard 
Medical School, of the class of 1851, settled at Great 
Falls, N. H. 

John Wheeler, M.D., A.B., from Dartmouth and from 
the Berkshire Medical School in 1852. 

George W. Garland, M. D., from Bowdoin, in 1837, 
now at Lawrence, Mass. 

William Walker, M.D., from Jefferson Medical School, 
in 1853, died in Barnstead, in 1855. 



158 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 18C3 

Mark Walker, M.D., from Jefferson Medical School, in 
1854, now in Barnstead. 

James Emerson, M.D., from Dartmouth Medical 
School, in 1858. 

Caleb W. Hanson, M.D., from Dartmouth Medical 
School, in 1858, now in Northwood. 

John Hanson, from Dartmouth College, 1859, now in 
business in the West. 

Joseph B. Rand, M.D., from Dartmouth College, in 
1858, now at White River, Vt. 

John P. Elkins, M.D., from Bowdoin, in 18G2, now in 
Wilmot. 

Augustus C. Walker, M.D., from New York Medical 
College, in 18^3, now in Roxburj'. 

Laban M. Saunders, M.D., from Dartmouth College, 
in 1864, died in Barnstead, in 1867. 

Arthur C. Newall, M.D., from Ohio Medical College, 
in 1865, now in Farmington. 

Jeremiah P. Jewett, was the first in Barnstead who 
took a degree as an M.D., his biograph}' will be found in 
the appendix. 

Hanson C. Canney, M.D., from Dartmouth College, in 
1865, settled in Auburn. 

Phineas H. Wheeler, M.D., from Dartmouth College, 
in 1865, settled in Alton. 

Nath. W. Woodhouse, M.D., from Dartmouth College, 
now in Wilton, Iowa. 

George H. Towle, M.D., from Harvard College in 1865, 
settled in Deerfield. 

I. Lysander Eaton, M.D., St. Louis Medical School, 
settled in St. Louis, Mo. 

Darius M. Edgerly, M.D., from New York University. 



1^<'3 PHYSICIANS. 159 

Note. — Doctors Eaton, Saunders, P. H. Wheeler, A. 
C. Walker and Newall, were all Acting Assistant Sur- 
geons in the United States Armj^ during the Rebellion of 
18G1. 

PHYSICIANS OF THE NEIGHBORING TOWNS. 
PITTSFIELD. 

Abel Blanchard began his practice in 1803. He 
was a bachelor ; at one time he offered Pittsfield $500 
towards founding an academy there, but that good people 
thought it would make their sons and daughters proud and 
lazy ; and therefore rejected the offer. He left the town 
in 1807 and went to Bembroke, and disposed of his money 
in the building of an academy there. Pittsfield has since 
honored herself in her schools of learning as well as in her 
improvements in manufacturing, in agriculture, and in tlie 
arts. 

Dr. Thomas Shannon came to Pittsfield when Dr. 
Blanchard left. Dr. Shannon was of the old school, edu- 
cated under Prof. Nathan Smith. In 1827, soon after 
founding the Medical School, Dr. Smith removed to Moul- 
tonboro', and died there, aged 80 years. 

Hon. R. p. I. Tennev, M.D., was a son of Dr. Wm. 
Tenne}', late of London, and succeeded to his father's 
practice in that town, but afterwards located himself in 
Pittsfield, since greatly increased in thrift and beauty, 
where he found an extensive field for his professional skill, 
and where he still lives, a leader in his profession, and a 
friend to all mankind. He lives in the midst of a happy 
family. He married Miss H. A. Sanborn, of Gilmanton, 
N. H. They have an amiable daughter bj^ the name of 
Abbie. The Doctor was a Councillor to the Governor of 
New Hampshire daring the Rebellion, and at that time did 



160 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1803 

valiant service for his country iu raising and transmitting 
tlie New Hampshire regiments to the armies of the North. 
Long life to him ! 

Jeremiah Blake, M.D., was a native of this town, 
commenced practice here in 1826 and continued in this 
ten 3'ears ; studied theology and then went into the minis- 
try. He still continues his medical practice, residing at 
Gilmanton Iron Works. 

Enoch Barnes, M.D., practised here. 

John S. Elliott, M.D., had an office here for several 
years, and then went to Manchester. 

LOUDON. * 

Abraham Silver, M.D., an early settler in L., but 
removed to Gilmanton. 

Benjamin Kelley, M.D., practised here in 1787, re- 
moved to Lower Gilmanton. 

Anthony Sherburne, M.D., settled in L., removed to 
Gilmanton in 1807, but soon died. . 

Jedediah Tucker, M.D., a Congregational preacher as 
well as physician, died in 1825. 

William Tenney, M.D.,was from Newburyport. He 
settled in Loudon in 1800 ; had a great practice, was 
social and kind. He died in 1826, aged about sixty years, 
much lamented. 

R. P. I. Tenney, M.D., was the successor of Dr. Wil- 
liam Tenney, his father, but afterwards removed to Pitts- 
field, where he still remains in practice. 

ALTON. 

John Morrison, M.D., one of its first settlers, still in 
practice, at the age of of seventy-five. 



1863 NEIGHBORING PHYSICIANS. 161 

Dr. Curry was in practice in Alton, in 1828-9. He 
eiied in 1830. 

Drs. Nathaniel Dorman and A. W. Lougee also prac- 
tised in Alton. 

BARRINGTON. 

Robert Woodbury, M.D., was early in Barrington, his 
fame was wide, he was a school-mate with the late Presi- 
dent John Quincy Adams, had a practice of more than 
fifty years, and died in 1856. 

John S. Furnald, M.D., practised nearly thirty years 
and died while yet in his strength of manhood. 

David McDaniel and William Waterhouse, also, were 
located in Barrington. 

NEW DURHAM. 

Daniel Mowe, M.D., a celebrated physician, was here 
many years. He removed to Lowell, where he lived with 
professional honor, and died Nov. 3, 1860, aged 71. 

John Elkins, M.D., was skilful, and had an extensive 
field of labor in New Durham. 

NORTH WOOD. 

John Smith, M.D., an earl3r settler, read with Dr. Kel- 
ly and had much practice in Northwood. 

Benjamin Kelly, M.D., was in Northwood from 1780 
to 1791, and then he settled in Gilmanton. 

John Starr, M.D., had several years' practice in North- 
wood, but died early. 

Thomas Tuttle, M.D., was a native of Barrington, set- 
tled in Northwood, and has had a respectable practice. 



1G2 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 18C3 

CHICHESTER. 

Amasa Kelly, M.D., one of the first in his profession 
in Chichester, came in 1799, became blind and died in 
1845, aged seventy-five. 

Samuel Sargent, M.D., of South Chichester, died in 
1842. 

EPSOM. 

Samuel Morrill, M.D., practised here and then removed 
to Concord. 

David L. Morrill, M.D., resided here a while, moved 
to Concord and was subsequently Governer of New Hamp- 
shire. 

Josiah Crosby, M.D., practised in lipsom at first, and 
then at Manchester, and is now residing there. 

James Babb, M.D., a native of Chichester, twenty years 
in practice, died in 1843. 

Hanover Dickey, M.D., served in his profession in 
Epsom, was a native — now in Lowell, Mass., and is still 
in practice. 

John Proctor, M.D., also practised in Epsom. 

GILMANTON. 

William Smith, M.D., was the first doctor in Gilman- 
ton. Came from East Kingston in 1778. He died in 
1830, aged ninety-eight years. 

Jonathan Hill, M.D., settled in Gilmanton, in 1778. 
He was a native of Stratham. 

Obadiah Parish, M.D., a native of Canterbury, married 
a Miss Badger, came to Gilmanton in 1790, died in 1794, 
aged thirty. 



1863 GRADUATES. 163 

Abraham Silver, M.D., came to lower Gilmantou, and 
was in his profession in Gilmanton some years. 

Simon Foster, M.D., a native of Andover, Mass., came 
to Gilmanton in 1800 ; practised thirty years. 

Daniel Jacobs, M.D., born at Mansfield in 1764, grad- 
uated at Dartmouth College in 1787, came to Gilmanton 
in 179G, had a good practice, died in 1814, aged fifty-one. 

Benjamin Kelley, M.D., came to Gilmanton in 1801, 
was a fellow of the New Hampshire Medical Society, died 
in 1839, aged seventy-five. 

Note. — Dr. Kelley had a son by the name of Hall 
J. He was a teacher in Boston, but hearing the 
story of the great West, he shouldered his pack and o-vni 
and, on foot, took a bee line westward. After many weary 
days he lost sight of all settlements, having reached and 
traversed vast prairies and spacious forests on the way. 
At length he found himself among savages, three thousand 
miles away from home, in Oregon. At that time he had 
not seen the face of a white man for two long years. The 
story of events on the way, the wild experiences in the 
midst of a new country, his manner of life among the 
western Indians, &c.,were often related by him with thrill- 
ing interest. His travels were published. 

There were several physicians other than those above 
named, who from time to time did good service in Gilman- 
ton, and other neighboring towns, and who of course some- 
times visited Barnstead professionally, among whom were 
Doctors Asa Crosby, Nathan C. Tebbetts, Otis French, 
and others. 

COLLEGE GRADUATES. 

Spofford D. Jewett, now a clergyman settled in 
Connecticut, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1826. 



164 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 18G3 

He was the first college graduate at Barnstead, studied 
theology at Andover, Avas the son of Dr. J. Jewett of Barn- 
stead, had been thirty-six years in the gospel ministry up 
to 1866, when on account of failing health he retired from 
his field of labor. 

George Franklin George. Esq., from Dartmouth College, 
now in practice at Shady Dale, Georgia, a son of Rev. 
Enos George, deceased. 

Albert Elisha Hodgdon, Esq., a son of Charles, from 
Dartmouth College in 1842, opened a law-office in Barn- 
stead, but died in 1847. 

John P. Newell, Esq., at Dartmouth College, was the 
first scholar in his class, read law, and then took charge 
of the High School in Manchester. His wife was the 
daughter of Charles Jas. Bell. Mr. Newell is far known 
and much respected. 

Horace Webster, L.L.B., from Dartmouth College in 
1849, and a graduate of Harvai'd Law School. His wife 
was the daughter of Rev. Amos Blanchard, of Lowell. 
He died in 1867. His wife soon followed him to the spirit 
land. 

John Wheeler, M.D., from Dartmouth College in 1850, 
and now in full practice in Barnstead. 

Charles A. Bunker, from Dartmouth College in 1864, 
now teaching in Peacham Academy. 

Nathaniel L. Hanson, from Dartmouth College in 1864, 
engaged in teaching. 

David M. Edgerly, M.D., from Dartmouth College in 
1864, in medicine, graduated at New York Universit3^ 

Lewis W. Clark, Esq., a native of Barnstead, gradu- 
ated at Dartmouth College in 1850, read law and settled 
in Pittsfield, thence to Manchester, N. H., is in a large 



1863 MERCHANTS. 165 

practice. He has a generous heart and a strong mind. 
He is now (1872) Attorney-General of New Hamp- 
shire . 

Alonzo H. Quint, D.D., from Dartmouth College in 
1846, and from Andover afterwards, was chaplain in the 
Second Mass. Regiment during the Rebellion — wrote its 
history — and now is pastor of a church at New Bedford. 

Luther E. Shepard, from Dartmouth College in 1851, 
read law, and is now in practice, doing a successful busi- 
ness in Lowell, Mass. 

Note.— Augustus C. Walker, William Walker and Ar- 
thur C. Newall, are natives of Barnstead, and were 
students at Dartmouth College for the term of two years. 



MERCHANTS 



The traders in Barnstead have advanced about in the 
following order : 

Richard Cinclair, commencing in 1774, on Province 
Road, was the first. 

Paul G. Hoyt. 

Moses Styles, from Kingston. 

Nathaniel Goodhue, in 1814. Second store at Parade 
(barter trade). 

Charles G. Cinclair, from Bethlehem ; Goodhue's suc- 
cessor. 

John Kelly commenced in 1817. From Gilmanton ; 
kept at Parade. 



166 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

Nathaniel D. Chamberlain, in 1821 ; from Alton, 

John Berry, from Pittsfield ; kept at South Barnstead. 
Commenced in 1819 ; was here several years. Returned 
to Pittsfield. 

John Kent was Berry's successor. 

Samuel Webster, at North Barnstead ; commenced in 
1820. 

George Nutter was Webster's successor and a success- 
ful merchant. 

Ebenezer Hall commenced at Parade in 1822 ; several 
years here ; removed to Concord. 

Samuel J. Edgerly and P. Hodgdon were in trade 
several years. Hodgdon removed to Ossipee. 

John Peavey, Esq., opened the first store at the 
Centre, and traded many years. 

Eliphalet S. Nutter, Esq., was in trade at Barnstead 
Parade a considerable time, and proved one of its most 
successful merchants. He removed to Concord in 1855. 

The stores of these men, for the most part, were filled 
with West India and dry goods, for which they often took 
pay in lumber, &c., such as ship-timber, boards, shingles, 
firkins, corn, potatoes, oats, butter, eggs, tow-cloth, &c. 

Kelly, Goodhue and Webster were extensive traders, 
and were the purchasers of all such articles. Beyond this, 
Webster went largely into the lumbering business. The 
fine forests of pine and oak then standing, began to yield 
to the woodman's axe, furnishing for the market many a 
stately mjfet and much ship timber, as well as an abundance 
of the finest boards and shingles. He was from Gilman- 
touand was in trade here a quarter of a century — was an 
industrious worker, and, as the farmers would say, "died 
in the harness." 



1863 HAND LABOR. 167 

At the first settlements, and for more than forty years 
up to 1812, manufacturing iu this and the adjoining 
towns was all done by hand labor. Every article of 
wearing apparel, every article of household furniture, all 
farming utensils, and all kinds of implements used by this 
community were wrought out without the aid of machinery, 
through the ardent, exhausting toil of men and women 
at hand labor. 

The farm produced the flax, and the variegated flocks 
afforded an abundance of white and black wool. The 
flax was at first rotted and dried ; then it was subjected 
to the break, which was worked by hard hand labor ; then 
it was swingled and combed, when it became nice, smooth 
and shiny, and fit for spinning or for the market. 

The linen and the large wheel then stood ready to 
assist in preparing it for the web, and the old clock reel 
to transfer it into skeins, and to count it into knots. 

The old-fashioned loom then took it, and the rattle of 
the shuttle and treadles, and the reverberation of the 
lathe in driving the threads, were heard afar ; while, at 
the same time, the health of the industrious housewife was 
invigorated in this process of manufacturing cloth through 
hand labor. Be it remembered that life, through such an 
industry, was made the more profitable, cheerful and 
happy. 

The use of most of the cloth in various ways made of 
flax, wool and cotton, was for the home consumption. 
Fabrics thus made and thus used administered to the im- 
mediate comforts of the household, and at the same time 
tended to inspire it with a complacent self satisfaction. 

The first attempt to improve the old Scotch wheel was 
in the patent head. This was intended to increase the 



168 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

revolutions of the spindle, and lessen the revolutions of 
the wheel itself, and thereby to save labor. Cotton was 
scarce, and commanded a high price, being imported from 
India, and usually in very small quantities. 

The old linen wheel, with its foot power and pine 
distaff, were the same from time immemorial. Any sug- 
gestions with the view of improvements in them would 
have been looked upon with distrust, and as being in 
vain. So it was during the first fifty years of our history. 

Female labor was plenty and cheap. It was common 
for the girl to work by the week, three shillings being the 
usual wages for that term of service, and the spinning of 
five skeins of yarn constituted her legal clay's work. 

Many families were in the habit of manufacturing tow 
cloth, which was used to clothe the negro slaves of the 
South, and which sold here at the country stores for about 
ten or twelve cents per yard. 

Sometimes a fabric was made up of a linen warp and 
hair yarn filling. This was woven in colors, checked, 
striped, and plain ; it was quite thick and coarse, and was 
readily sold at the stores in the early years when cotton 
first began to be successfully raised in our own country. 

Very soon this material began to be spun by machinery, 
and sold by the pound in yarn, numbered according to the 
size of its thread, or its numlier of skeins to the pound. 

This was then bought and sold for warp, while linen 
was used lor filling it, producing a durable home-made 
cloth. 

But the years of manufacturing the home supplies of 
raiment, which evinced the industr}^, economy, and enjoy- 
ment of our primeval race, have passed away. The Indus- 




THE WHEEL OF THE OLDEN TIME. 



ISeS FIRST SAW MILL. 169 

try of our old mothers in this regard lias been described in 
verse as follows : 

" Men of my age ! we liall that highland glee 
That cheered the homes, the hearts of you and me. 
Of yore. Ye matrons too, whose childhood prime 
Is merged in memories of the olden time. 
Call up that hour 1 and bear me witness too 
Of what in early life you used to do; 
How then ou tip-toe cotton yarn you spun. 
How buzzed the band, and how the spindle run, 
How moved the thread around the handy reel. 
How dear old motlier whirled the linen wheel, 
AVhile at her knee the prattling baby stands. 
Provoking grandma with his little hands. 
To feel the forked distaff's flaxy curl 
Or ferret out the curious whiz and whirl 
Of wheel and spool; heedless of frown or fliers. 
Or flax comb keen. So fondly he admires ! 
The enchanting scenes of childhood's joyful day, 
We cherish still, though fled like flowers of May. 
In truth, alike, the habits had of yore 
That linen wheel and loom are known no more." 

{Caverly^s ■'Merrimac," p. 60.] 

BRICKS. 

These were made in Barnstead at an early period, clay 
beds from which to make tiiem being common, and very 
soon bricks began to take the place of rude unshapely 
stones, with which were built the chimneys of the ancient 
houses. They were then burnt in kilns ; no machinery 
being used, as now, in preparing them for the burning 
process. 

FIRST SAW MILL. 

This was situated on the Suncook. It carried an up and 
down saw and made but one cut at every revolution of the 
water wheel, but it furnished sufficient of boards and 
planks to supply the demands of this then scattered 



170 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1863 

people. Their clapboards and shingles were rived from 
the rude but more clear forest material, mostly of the old 
yellow centered pine, having neither wane nor knot for 
man}' feet of its length. 

Labor was cheap, there being but little to do, which, 
would bring an immediate return in money. Yet they had 
but to work and wait ; as the farm and the forest, oper- 
ated upon by an economical industry would favor them, 
and soon did yield to them a full supply and a cheerful 
livelihood. 

From 25 to 40 cents would pay a laborer for his da^^'s 
work ; corn would bring but about 50 cents per bushel ; 
hay S5 per ton ; a cow from $5 to $8 ; a horse from S20 
to $40. Clothing was cheap, being home-made as above 
stated, yet even at these low rates all enjo^-ed a compe- 
tence — none seemed to be in want. 

In later years the lumbering business increased, and 
the various products of the forests were from time to time 
in different forms borne awa}' to the market at the tide- 
waters or elsewhere, and these in time brought to the 
farmer a more competent cash return. The manufacturing 
of barrels, firkins, pails, tubs, &c., was by no means a 
small business in the early days of Barnstead, as it brought 
to its inhabitants a constant income, sometimes in articles 
useful to the household and sometimes in cash. 

SHOES. 

Within the last thirty years much has been accom- 
plished in this vicinity in the manufacture of shoes. The 
material stock being cut out, and boxed, in Lynn and other 
large manufacturing towns, it is then transported here, 



1863 TOWN POUND. 171 

giving employment to many men and women to a good 
profit. 

All this constituted a part of the home industry of 
Barnstead, and although taken together, it has not always 
afforded the most advantageous income, yet it has been 
productive of sweet contentment and a vigorous health, 
such as is not often found in the mammoth mills of 
crowded cities, where such work is done under the labor 
savins inventions of later and more modern times. 



TOWN POUND, 



The following record is on the town book in the year 
1817: 

" It was proposed to build a circular Pound, forty feet 
in diameter, with a six-foot wall, seven feet high, to be 
located near the brook by John Tasker's mill. 

"It was put up at auction and bid off by Nathaniel 
Tasker at forty dollars ; and a bond was given to the 
Selectmen by Tasker for a faithful performance of the 
work." 

Unfortunately Tasker was taken sick and died. His 
widow petitioned for a release from the contract. The 
town voted not to exempt the widow Sally from building 
the Pound agreeable to the bond given to the Selectmen. 
It was therefore set up at auction again and bid off by 
Joseph Pickering for $49. He afterwards fell back, and 
Ms forfeit was one dollar. It was again put up at auction 



172 HISTORY OF BARXSTEAU. 1863 

and was bid off by David Jacobs for $60. His bid was 
also given up, the one dollar being paid. It was again 
set up, and was bid off" by John Peavey, Esq., for $60, 
who o;ave his bond and built the Pound." 



TOWN HALL. 



This is located at the Centre. It was erected in LS47, 
and ever since the business of the town has been transacted 
in this building. Pre\'iousl3' the Selectmen had held their 
meetings in the different sections, mostly at private houses. 
The Town Hall has proved to l)e not only a great con- 
venience to the corporation as a public building, but as 
otherwise affording to the public acconnnodatious for the 
various gatherings which are connnon to a country village. 



SHEEP MARKING. 



Formerly a farmer would have been regarded as neg- 
lectful of duty, and destitute of econonn^ if he did not 
raise his own wool, and manufacture his own cloth. Hence 
every farmer must necessaril}' support a large flock, and 
b}^ statute law he was held to keep his sheep properly 
marked. The marking was done by tlie barbarous fashion 
of mutilating the ears. Thus for instance, in 1812, the 



1872 ITS REPRESENTATIVES. 173 

sheep-niark of Samuel Bickford, as appears on record, 
was " a piece cut ott' the right side of each ear, the ear 
sharpened from each side of each ear thereof." 

Each farmer had a different mark upon the ears of his 
flock, so that if any were to stray from his fold and mingle 
with others, they might easily be identified and obtained. 



REPRESENTATIVES TO THE LEGISLATURE. 



Charles Hodgdon is the first on record and served from 
1797 to 1821 inclusively, excepting the years 1800, 1801, 
1802, 1803, 1815, 1817, 18U). 

John Nutter in 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803. 

Nathaniel Wilson in 1815, 1816, 1817. 

William Walker, Jr., in 1819, 1822, 1824, 1827. 

Hereafter there was to be two Representatives annually. 

John Peavey, Esq., 1823, 1824, 1825, 1826, 1828. 
Charles Hodii'don, 1823, 1845 Joshua B. Merrill, 1851, 1853 
John Kaime, 1825, 1826 Wm. Jenkins, jr., 1852 

John Kent, Esq., 1828 Thomas Proctor, 1851, 1852 

Isaac O. Barnes, 1829, 1830 Isaac Garland. Jr.. 1853, 1854 
Samuel Webster, 1829, 1830 John L. Nutter, 1854, 1855 
George Nutter, 1831, 1832 Seth Shackford, 1855, 185(5 

William H. Newall, 1831, 1832 Josh. M. Babcock, 1856, 1857 
Thos. P. Hodgdon, 1833, 1834 Joseph Nutter. 1857, 1858 
Samuel Kainie, 1833, 1834 Alfred Bunker, 1858, 1859 

Samuel G. Berry, 1835, 1836 Jacob B. Locke, 1859, 1860 
William S. Hill, 1835, 1836 Charles S. George, 1860, 1861 

Timothy Dow, 1837, 1888 John McNeal, 1861, 1862 

Richard Garland, 1837, 1838 Geo. W. Emerson, 1862, 1863 



174 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. . 1872 

Joseph A. Walker, 1839, 1840 John Dorr, 1863, 1864 
Joseph Jenkins, 1839, 1840 Horace N. Colebath, 1864 

Stephen Young, 1841, 1842 Daniel F. Davis, 1865, 1866 

Samuel Rollins, jr., 1841, 1842 Charles H. Dorr, 1865, 1866 
Jonn Walker, 1843, 1844 Mark Walker, 1867, 1868 

Enos George, 1843, 1844 Jona. M. Tasker, 1867, 1868 

Chas. Hodgdon, jr., 1845, 1846 William Proctor, 1869 
John H. Collins, 1845, 1846 Jacob W. Evans, 1869 
William Grover, 1847, 1848 No Election in 1870 
Charles Dudley, 1847, 1848 John F. Holmes, 1871, 1872 

Robert S. Webster, 1849, 1850 Dau'l E. Tuttle, 1871, 1872 
Enoch Clark, 1849, 1850 



SELECTMEN. 



John Tasker, 1774, 1776, 1783 

Thomas Edgerly, 1774, 1776 

Benjamin Nutter, 1774, 1775, 1777, 1778, 1780, 1782, 1783 

Richard Ciuclair, 1775, 1777, 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782, 1784 

Wiuthrop Smart, 1775, 1778, 1782 

Andrew Drew, 1776 

Samuel Pitman, 1777 

William Brown, 1778, 1781 

John Drew, 1779 

Jonathan Emerson, 1779, 1780, 1784 

Rufus Ewers, 1781, 1794, 1795, 1798, 1799 

Charles Hodgdon, 1783, 1786, 1787, 1788, 1789, 1792 

Ephraim Tebbetts, 1784 

Jonathan Chesley, 1785, 1788, 1789, 1791 

John Nutter, Jr., 1785, 1787, 1788, 1789, 1891, 1792, 1793, 
1794, 1800, 1809 

Lemuel Bickford, 1785 

Samuel Nelson, 1786, 1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1797, 
1800, 1801 



1872 ■ ITS SELECTMEN. 175 

Ebeiiezer Adams, 178G 

Moses Rand, 1787 

Dependence Colebath, 1790 

Ephraim Tebbetts, 17!»0 

Beiijamiu Nutter, 1793, 1803 

Dauiel Drew, 1795, 1797. 1798, 1799 

Ezekiel Edgerly, 1796, 1800, 1808 

Charles Hodgdon, Jr., 179G, 1802, 1803. 180G, 1817, 1822, 
1824, 1826, 1827, 1828 

John Jenkins, Jr., 179G, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1809 

James Lock, 1800, 1801, 1803 

Peletiah Daniels, 1804: 

Joseph Tasker, 1804, 1805, 1808 

James Brown, 1804, 1805 

Moses Chesley. 1807, 1808, 1810 

Nathaniel Tasker, 1807, 1809, 1814, 1815 

Benjamin Hodgdon, 1810, 1811 

Isaac Garland, 1810, 1811 

Eliphalet Nutter, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1816, 1820 

Nathaniel Wilson, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1820, 1821, 1823 
^Villi'im Walker, Jr , 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, 1818, 
1820, 1821, 1825 

Noah Robinson, 1816, 1817, 1818 

John Kaime, 1818, 1819, 1822 

John B. Swasey, 1819 

Jeremiah Dow, 1819 

Samuel Rollins, 1822, 1823 

John Daniels, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1826 ^ 

George Nutter, 1824, 1825 

Thomas P. Hodgdon, 1826 

Samuel J. Edgerly, 1827, 1828, 1834, 1835 

Timothy Dow, 1828, 1829, 1830 

Richard Garland, 1829, 1830 

Benjamin Hoitt, 1830, 1831 

Samuel G. Berry, 1831, 1832 

William S. Hill, 1831, 1832 

Oliver Demerit, 1832, 1833 
* Dauiel McNeal, 1833, 1834 



176 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

William Nutter, 1833, 1834 

Jeremiah Clark, 1835, 1863 

Jacob Sauuders, 1835 

Charles Dudley, 1836, 1837 

Joseph Jeukius, 1836, 1837, 1838, 1847, 1848 

Arthur Bickford, 1836, 1837 

Samuel Webster, 1838, 1839, 1840 

Stephen Young, 1838, 1839 

Samuel Kaime, 1839, 1840, 1858, 1859 

Sewall Cilley. 1840, 1849 
^ohu Walker, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1863, 1864 
_Joseph Walker, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1857, 1858 

Daniel Bickford, 1841 

William Berry, 1843 

Hazen Pickering, 1843, 1844 

Joseph A. Walker, 1844 

Enoch Clark, 1845, 1846 

Isaac Garland, 1845, 1846 

George S. Roberts, 1845, 1846 

Joshua B. Merrill, 1847, 1848, 1849 

Josiah R. Shackford, 1847, 1848 

Jacob B. Locke, 1849, 1850 

John L. Nutter, 1850, 1851 

Samuel Bickford, 1850, 1851 

Seth Shackford, 1851, 1852 

Hazen Wheeler, 1852, 1853 

Thomas Emerson, 1852, 1853 

John Dow, 1853, 1854, 1867, 1868 

Caleb Willey, 1854 

Charles S. French, 1854, 1855 

John McNeal, 1855, 1856 

George W. Emerson, 1855, 1856 

Samuel D. Nutter, 1856, 1857 

William Proctor, 1857 

William S. Nutter, 1859. 1860, 1871, 1872 

Jacob W. Evans, 1859, 1860 

Nathaniel S. Nutter, 1860, 1861, 1871, 1872 

Joseph D. Proctor, 1861, 1862 * 



1S72 TOAVN CLERKS. 177 

John N. Hoitt, 1861, 1862 

Horatio G. Willey, 1862, 1863 

Charles S. George, 1864, 1865 

Joel S. Hall, 1864, 1865 

George W. Hodgdon, 1865, 1866 

David H. Evaus, 18()6 

Plumer Garland, 1866 

JohnW. F. Locke, 1867, "1868, 1869, 1870 

Charles E. Walker, 1867, 1868 

John F. Holmes, 1869, 1870 

Joseph P. Blaisdell, 1869, 1870 

John F. Garland, 1871, 1872 



TOWN CLERKS. 



The first Town Clerk of whom we have ai\y record 
was Benjamin Nutter, elected in 1775. The record is in 
a fair liand. He remained in office up to 1781. Ilis suc- 
cessors were : 

Sanniel Nelson, from 1781 to 1784, inclusive. 

Jonathan Bunker, from 1785 to 1786, inclusive. 

Benjamin Hodgdon, from 1787 to 1799, inclusive. 

Charles Hodgdon, Jr., from 1800 to 1805, inclusive. 

Jeremiah Jewett, in 1806. 

Charles Hodgdon, Jr., from 1807 to 1815, inclusive. 

Enos George, from 1816 to 1858, inclusive. 

Charles S. George, acted as Town Clerk in 1859. 

Horace N. Colebath, in 1860. 

Cyrus W. Blauchard, in 1861. 

Charles E. Walker, from 1862 to 1864, inclusive. 

Levi C. Scrutton, in 1865. 

John H. Hill, in 1866. 

John E. Pendergast, from 1867 to 1868, inclusive. 

George Emerson, from 1869 to 1872, inclusive. 



178 ' HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 187: 

POST-OFFICES. 



Their locatious are designated — Barnstead, South 
Barustead, Centre Barnstead, and Nortli Barnstead. 

Previous to about tlie year 1814 there had been no 
Post-office here. The first was established on the Province 
Road, near the southwest corner of the town. 

Charles Hodgdon, was the first Postmaster. He 
was succeeded by Charles Hodgdon, Jr., Charles J. Hodg- 
don, Noah Robinson, Samuel D. Nutter, but perhaps not 
all in the same localit}-. 

BARNSTEAD (pARADe) POST-OFFICE, 

The Postmasters have been Hazen "Wheeler, Eliphalet 
S. Nutter, Jonathan M. Tasker, Daniel Chesley, Joseph 
P. Russell, and Cyrus W. Blanchard. 

BARXSTEAD CENTRE POST-OFFICE. 

Postmasters, Isaac O. Barnes, John Kent, Jeremiah 
Elkins, John Peavey, Dauiel Bickford, Noah C. Hun- 
tress, E. C. Drew, Laban M. Saunders, Seth Tasker, 
and Thomas M. Huse. 

NORTH BARNSTEAD POST-OFFICE. 

Postmasters, Samuel Webster, Thomas P. Hodgdon, 
Robert S. Webster, Charles E. Walker, and William C. 
Berry. 

SOUTH BARNSTEAD POST-OFFICE. 

Postmasters, Edward Walker, Charles Reynolds. 



1872 



HUSKINGS. 



179 



JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 



John Cinclair, 
John Tasker, 
Charles Hodgdon, 
John Nntter, 
Benjamin Nutter, 
Benjamin Hodgdon, 
Charles Ilodgdon, jr 
Joseph Tasker, 
John Peavey, 
Caleb Merrill, 
William Walker, 
William S. Hill, 
Hazen Pickering, 
Charles S. George, 
John W. P. Locke. 



John Dow, 
Samuel Webster, 
Isaao 0. Barnes, 
Jei'emiah Elkins 
Thomas P. Hodgdon, 
John Bickford, 
Eliphalet Nutter, 
Moses Norris, 
George Nutter, 
Peletiah Daniels, 
John II. Collins, 
Samuel Kaime, 
Reuben Edgerly, 
George W. Ewers, 
Eichard Garland. 



HUSKINGS. 



Formerly as now, one of the largest crops produced in 
New Hampshire, was that of maize, known as Indian 
Corn, as it has been called, the same being believed to be 
a native of this country. It was fonnd by the first settlers, 
as raised b3' the Indians, and as seen by Columbus and 
others at their first landings. In New England it has ever 
since been more extensively^ cultivated than any other 
article. It cannot be raised in England to anj^ great 
profit, but in Asia and Africa the soil and climate for the 
most part is well adapted to its growth. 



180 HISTORY OF BAUNSTEAD. 



1872 



In all countries it is now more or less used in various 
ways constituting a substantial diet. Almost everywhere 
it is consumed in the feed of Iiogs, horses, and cattle, and 
often takes the i)lace of fuel in some parts of the great 
west. It is raised there in largo quantities and at the 
small cost of a few cents per bushel. The new lands of 
the country are well suited to its growth, and no article of 
produce affords an abundant return with more certainty 
than a crop of corn. Of this the poor in our early days 
could always obtain a supply, as it grew abundantly, and 
a little labor would command it. How common it was 
then to see peering through the log cabin from six to ten 
rosy, red cheeked urchins with tangled hair, all in the 
bloom of health, living daily as they did almost entirely 
on this most nutritive diet, and from month to month 
scarcely knowing a change from the corn and pork which 
the father had raised and fattened. All over the large 
fields,- then, in the montli of October, could be seen the 
beautiful ears of yellow corn enveloped with dry husks 
fully ripe and fit for the garner. 

It was the work for the husbandman for days, to gather 
the harvest of these fields, and to deposit the unhusked 
corn in huge piles along the spacious floors of his barn. 
This being done, the farmer, as if to join in a general 
thanksgiving, would extend to the old, the young, and the 
middle aged, an invitation to come to his husking. 

At the evening appointed, they would come from afar 
by the scores, and after the common greetings were passed 
each would be conducted to the great pile, the same being 
lighted up brilliantly, usually with wooden chandeliers 
filled with candles. The young men and the modest young 
maidens usually appropriated to themselves such seats as 




THE OLD HOMESTEAD, 



1872 HUSKINGS. 181 

seemed most agreeable to them, while the older and more 
sedate would seat themselves., men and women, promiscu- 
ously at the heaviest part of the heap, all working their 
fingers energetically, and all amusing themselves in con- 
versation, story, and song, which usually' increased to a 
noisy liilarit}' as the heap diminished. 

The boys and girls will of course crack their jokes. 
And when a red-ear was husked, then b}^ the laws of the 
craft, the finder had a right to greet his favorite lady with 
a kiss. This law was usually promptly enforced, although 
our lads of the ruder class would sometimes incur the 
penalty of a box on the side of the head, or of being buried 
up in the husks. 

After all the heaps are husked, then all the guests 
repair to the mansion, where tlie old tashioned fire-place 
is ablaze with a rousing fire, and where long extended tables 
are set, standing upon the sanded floors, and upon which 
the various viands that make up a sumptuous feast are 
displayed and devoured, and Avhich alwa3's follow the husk- 
ing out of the corn. 

Then the lively reel and contra dance succeed, well- 
timed by the fiddler, suspended, liowever, occasionally, to 
hear a story of the olden time from tlie experience of age, 
or to listen to a song from some fair maiden, all enjoying 
the occasion, and each contributing a share to its enter- 
tainment ; thus on until the striking of the old clock, 
announcing the short hours of the night, admonishes the 
company that the pleasures of the husking season are post- 
poned to the next succeeding year. 

The harvest and the husking of the corn have been 
celebrated thus : 



182 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 



•1872 



" Meanwhile the field assumes a spiky form. 

The time hath come to gather in the corn ; 

On hand the laborers, on hand the cart, 

The lads are all aglee to take a part ; 

For now they know when eve approaches near 

'Twill bring that joyful husking of the year. 

All now one purpose faithfully fulfil, 

The rustling ears are luinied from the hill 

With ardent zeal; and flushed with hopeful joys. 

Above the standing stalks both men and boys, 

High on their shoulders crowded baskets wield. 

The heavy harvest carted from the field. 

They pile in heaps within the grating door 

Throughout the spacious barn and kitchen floor 

At eve ; there then the guests all seated down, 

From every cottage home in all the town, 

Some old, some young, and some quite lately born 

Vie with each other husking out the corn ; 

In social chat and merry song they keep 

The golden ears fast flying from the heap, 

■While startled oft the seated crowd appear 

At lucky swains who find a crimsoned ear; 

For in such luck, 'tis never deemed amiss 

To go the rounds and give the maids a kiss. 

The sprightly boys with bending baskets borne, 

Remove the husks and bear away the corn. 

Then comes the hour that gathers large supplies. 

Of apple-dowdies and of pumpkin pies. 

Then bends the board with viands, fruit and wine. 

All hail ! that gleeful hour, the olden time !" 

{Caverly's '' 3Iei-rimac," p. 57-8.] 



NATIVE FRUITS. 



Long before the white man invaded the Indian haunts 
along these valleys, bountiful crops of fruits and berries 
seldom failed. Berries in profusion and in great varieties 



1872 NATIVE FRUITS. 



183 



supplied the natives, and fed myriads of birds that enliv- 
ened the dark forest with the melody of their songs. 

APPLE TREES. 

The apple grew spontaneously, affording in its varie- 
ties some of its choicest specimens. Then, as now, 
altliough in a much less degree, it flourished and was 
knoAvn throughout New England. Yet its production 
here is always subject to great fluctuations. The apple 
crop in the valley of tlie Suncook since the year 1829, has 
very much declined. The once beautiful orchards of that 
locality, then of thrifty growth, bearing well, have given 
way, and much less of fruit is obtained. Apple trees in 
the woods sometimes grew to the height of sixty feet, but 
in the open orchard, well cultivated, they expand into 
their natural dimensions and produce more fruit. 

Much has been done within the last fifty years in graft- 
ing upon the old stocks nature's best varieties, so that the 
town is now very well supplied with the choicest kinds 
of this, the best of all fruits, though on the whole not in so 
great an abundance as formerl}'. 

PEARS, PEACHES, CHERRIES, &C. 

Peaches will not flourish here, the climate being too 
cold for them. Pears, plums, cherries, native grapes, and 
nuts flourish well generally. The blue-berry, black-berry, 
straw-berry and rasp-berry are natives to this soil and 
grow in profusion. Chestnuts and walnuts are less abun- 
dant. The oak with its burden of acorns is attractive to 
the chip, the red, and the gray squirrel, to which they in 
the fall resort for a supply to their varied favorite winter 
quarters. 



184 IIISTOKY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

The low blue-berry bush grows upon the rocky hillside, 
and in other waste places, and yet it is filled with rich and 
early fruit. These berries are often gathered in large 
quantities and sent to the city markets, where the^' usually 
find a profitable sale. This fruit gathering tends to inuure 
the women and children to habits of industry and economy, 
promoting health and leading to long life. During the 
fruit season hundi'eds of bushels of berries are thus collected 
and sent to the city markets, by which a rough pasture in 
some instances, is made (juite as profitable as the culti- 
vated field. 

THE POTATO. 

The first account had of this plant was of some "roots" 
found in Virginia, in 1597, and which were, as a curiosity, 
sent from there to England and planted in a gentleman's 
garden. It is said Sir Walter Raleigh on his return from 
this country, at about that time introduced them in Ireland. 
The Irish were slow to introduce them, having at first an 
unfavorable estimation of their value, but afterwards be- 
came great admirers of them. In England they were still 
more tard}' in introducing them. 

One writer said they were nearly like the Jerusalem 
artichoke, but not so good nor so wholesome ; that they 
should be roasted and sliced and might be eaten with sauce 
composed of wine and sugar. The more wealthy were in- 
clined to regard them as food for the poorer classes who 
had not the means of obtaining the more common and 
costly articles. 

Columbus, in his early voyages, carried them into Spain 
and was the means of planting them there at an early 
period. Although of slow introduction, the uses and im- 



1872 GEOLOGY. 185 

portance of this tuber, has given it a wide spread, far 
be3^ond all other esculents, so that it has now become one 
of the great crops of England, Ireland, Spain, and Russia, 
and is raised more or less in almost every other country. 
If no other benefits had accrued to the old world by the 
discovery of the new, the corn and potatoes found here 
would have afforded to the adventurer a full and complete 
compensation. 

The dry soil of Barnstead is well adapted to the pro- 
duction of this most healthy and cheap diet, in all of its 
best and most bountiful varieties. It supplies itself, and 
from 3'ear to year affords large quantities to various mar- 
kets of the seaport towns. 



GEOLOGY. 



There is no mountain range passing through this town, 
nor is there any direct up-heaving of the earth's surface, 
indicating volcanic eruptions, by which the baser metals 
are sometimes made discoverable, but as it seems the 
aqueus element in primeval times settled here, concealing 
at least to some extent many of the more prominent 
materials often found in New England by explorers in 
Geology. 

Dr. Charles T. Jackson, in his geological survey' made 
several years since, represents Barnstead as being rough 
and hilly, but as having a good soil, its rocks being alter- 
nations of a very coarse feldspathic granite, with gneiss 
and mica slate, loose masses of basaltic trap rock on its 

24 



186 HISTORY OF I5ARNSTEAU. 1872 

main road leading through it from Pittsfield. Speci- 
mens of phimbago were obtained as fonnd in the ledges, 
on the farm of Jonathan Keniston. Also on the Tuttle 
farm, one-fourth of a mile west from Centre Barnstead, a 
bog iron ore is found beneath the turf, covering nearl}^ an 
acre of ground. 

Also in the east part of the town oii> the land of 
Samuel Garland, bog iron ore is found on the slope of a 
hill forming a crust of two or three inches in thickness 
and interlaid by hard pan. 

It is not sufficiently abundant for a furnace but serves 
well when ground for paint. Yellow ochre is found on tlie 
town farm, but whether any attempt to collect and work 
these ores would l)e profitable is a question of much uncer- 
tainty. 

There are now and then in Bai'nstead granite boulders, 
which, according to the theory of Agassiz and others, were 
dropped where they now rest by the immense icebergs 
which were thrown over the country from North to South, 
leaving on the way also great (quantities of trap and otlier 
materials. Much of our soil is pebbly and sandy ; l)ogs 
and claj-ey soils do not abound. In the four towns bor- 
dering on this are the Blue-hills, Catamount and Gunstock 
Mountains, which are much higher than any part of Barn- 
stead, and these high mountain ranges loom np, making it 
an uneven valley between them, through which the beautiful 
Suncook and its trilnitaries wind their way onward to the 
Merrimac and to the ocean. 

EARTIl-QUAKES. 

Perhaps no greater shaking of the earth has been felt 
in this vicinity than on Nov. 28, 1814. It was in the 



1872 EARTH-QUAKES. 187 

evening, there was about two inches of snow upon the 
ground, the weather was fair and cold, not a cloud being 
in sight to cover the glittering light of the stars. We 
were sitting in tiie kitclien of the farm house, the fire fair 
blazing in the old fashioned chimney. In front of it sat two 
young ladies reading by tlie light of a candle, and a small 
boy six years old leaning over the back of his chair nearly 
asleep. These were all, and silence prevailed. 

All at once a distant rumbling is heard, like wheels over 
frozen ground ; it seemed to approach nearer, the rumb- 
ling became louder, witli a gushing noise lilve a mighty 
wind, shaking the house, the long row of pewter plates 
standing on edges, and crockery rattling and shaking, 
every door seeming as if some one was at the latch trying 
to get in, and the windows apparently trying to get open. 
Such a terrible clatter startled the two ladies from their 
seats, who took for the street in the shortest route, and 
thence to the nearest doorway of a neighbor. 

The boy in his friglit landed in the midst of the nearest 
wood-pile of brush, and being hurt bellowed vociferously, 
so that he might have been taken as the counterpart to the 
earthquake. The villagers were all out viewing the stars, 
and earnesth' telling each other what tlie^' heard and how 
the shake appeared to them severally, all acting as if in 
a momentary expectation of another "■earth-shaker." At 
length all returned to their houses, which had been vacated 
thus unceremoniously, and to this day the inhabitants of 
the Suncook Valley have not forgotten the shake of that 
night. 

The great earthquake of 1727, nearly a hundred years 
earlier, was described in a sermon by Rev. Nath. Gook- 
in, who then resided in New Hampshire. He says : 



188 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

"Tlie shake was heard and attended by a most terrible 
noise, somewhat like thunder, the liouses trembled some- 
thing as if they were falling, divers chimneys were cracked 
— some had their tops broken off. 

• ''When the shake was beginning some persons observed 
a flash of light at their windows, and one or two saw 
streams of liglit. The sea was observed to roar in an 
unusual manner. The earth broke open near the south 
bounds of the town (as it did in other divers places) and 
cast up a very tine and blue sand. It is hard to express 
the consternation that fell on both man and beast at the 
time of the great shock. The brute creation were roaring 
about the fields as in the greatest distress and making 
noises — much surprised — and some of them as if in great 
terror." 

Another writer describes this earthquake of 1727 thus : 
"Oct 30. — At 10 o'clock at night. The earthquake 
shook both ye land and ye water, the islands and the seas 
at that degree that several doors were shook otf ye latch. 
In our village (Nantucket) ye hearth stones grated ye one 
against the other, and that Carr the boat-builder run out 
of his house, got into ye boat for fear 3'e island would sink." 
It is generall}- understood that earthquakes are the result 
of explosions within the earth, and that they proceed from 
the pent-up melted materials within it, which sometimes 
upheave and ventilate, creating excavations or cracks in 
its outer crust. In some localities they are felt ranch more 
sensibly than in this latitude, proving at times destructive 
to life and property, even to the shaking down of a whole 
city or ingulfing it in its ruins. 



1872 ITS CLIMATE. 189 

CLIMATE. 



At all seasons in this latitude the weather is variable ; 
so that a constant change of clothing is necessary at almost 
all times in order to insure good health. 

The husbandman, though generally well compensated 
for his industiy, has nuich with which to contend. The 
extreme droughts of June and July sometimes trouble him 
in this valley as well as fatal frosts, which sometimes in- 
vade his domain in the early autumn, and to a consideraljle 
extent lay waste his fields of vegetation. The season of 
planting is from the tenth of May to the first of June, and 
sometimes the copious rains of spring extend into this 
period and greatly retard the work and diminish his pros- 
pects of a fruitful harvest. 

The year 1769 was a cold season. It very much dis- 
couraged the settlers. Frosts were seen in every month 
of the year. But little hay was raised and generally there 
was but little vegetation. Corn, the principal cereal, was 
nearly all killed in its vigor, and the hopes of the husband- 
man were made faint. 

In 1770, the year next after the cold summer, winter 
came in intensely cold, and so remained with very deep 
snows for forty days in succession. 

In 1806 on the 16th of June at 10 o'clock, A. M., a 
cold chill visited New England, caused by a total eclipse 
of the sun ; the only one it can have during the present 
century. The darkness that then covered the face of the 
earth was impressive, "that day became night," stars made 
their appearance in the heavens, domestic fowls perched 
themselves upon their roosts, the conscious cattle forsook 



190 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

the pastures in quest of home, and all nature appeared to 
clothe itself in a serene solemnity. 

Januar}- 19, 1810, was what has been termed the cold 
Frida3\ Previously there had been a succession of cold 
days, the snow being deep and in drifts. On this da}' the 
wind was bleak, blowing strong from the northwest, 
creating a cold too intense for man to endure with ordinary 
clothing. 

1815.— The winter of this year was memorable for its 
deep snows. In some parts of New England it fell in the 
woods to the depth of eight feet. It held on late, and on 
the 19th of May snow fell to the depth of eight inches and 
the atmosphere at the time was quite cold. 

181 G. — During this 3'ear frosts now and then were 
found in the valle}' of the Suncook all summer. There 
was a snow storm in June. This year in its cold and 
dearth was very much the same as 1769. There was no 
corn and but little ha}', so that in winter the cattle died 
and the inhabitants were covered deep in dearth and dis- 
appointments. The price of corn then was two dollars per 
Itushel, hay thirty dollars per ton, and every other needful 
thing was held in about the same proportion. 

The cheapest food was souglit. A pint of beans with 
six quarts of water well boiled, was called " bean por- 
ridge." This was one of the best dishes of that da}'. 
Those who could afford it, however, sometimes added to it 
a small piece of beef, for in many instances their cattle 
had to be killed to prevent starvation. This year many a 
family went without bread for weeks in succession. In 
some parts of Vermont on June 7, 1816, it began to snow 
and continued until the 9th, when it froze all day. At 
sunset icicles were three feet in length. On September 9, 
following, water froze half an inch thick. 



1872 



THE WEATHER. 



191 



1819. — Very different was the winter of tliis 3^ear. It 
was without snow, there was plenty of rain anJ many mild 
days. Farmers plowed and sowed their fields in February 
and March. 

In 182G provisions were again scarce and prices ranged 
higli. On Dec. 30, the mercur}' ranged 25° below zero. 

January 30, 1830, proved to be the coldest day in New 
England since the cold Frida}^ of 1^10. 

The year 1832 was productive of much good sleighing. 

The extremes of heat and cold for a series of years 
were as follows : 

ABOVE ZERO. FIRST FR08T. 



HELOW ZERO. 



.July 20, 92' 
July 0, 92 
July 11, 93 
June 30, 92 
July 12, 95 

Number an(l depth of snows from 1831 to 1839 inclu- 
sively : 



1821, January 25, 20' 

1822, January 2-1, 20 

1823, January 7, 14 

1824, February 5, 25 

1825, December 13, IS 



September 29, 
September 18, 
September 22, 
September 20, 
September 20. 





NO. 


FT. 


IN. 


1831, 


53, 


0, 


4, 


18.32, 


54, 


6, 


3, 


1833, 


53, 


9, 


11, 


1234, 


51, 


10, 


9, 


1835, 


68, 


11, 


4, 





NO. 


FT. 


IN 


183C, 


9, 


0, 


4, 


18.37. 


:i, 


s. 


0, 


18.38, 


60, 


4, 


5, 


18.39, 


57, 


5. 


9, 


1843, 




0. 


0. 



It is believed the coldest day in New England within 
the memory of man was Saturda}^ January 24, 1857. 
The day next before it had been even colder than the "cold 
Friday" of 1810, but this Saturday for its degree of inten- 
sity surpassed them both. At Dover, N. II., the mercury 
at sunrise stood 31° below zero, at Lowell, Mass., 25° be- 
low, at Tyngsboro', Mass., 31° below, at Bangor, Maine, 
44° below, at White River Junction, and AVoodstock, Vt., 
43° below, at Calais, Me., 39° below, and at Montpelier, 



192 HISTORV OF BAHXSTEAD. 1872 

Vt., the mercury fell to 50° below and congealed. But 
the weather moderated during the day. 

The hottest da}- in New England is supposed to have 
been Wednesday, July 15, 18G8. At Lowell, Mass., the 
mercury rose to 101° in the shade and remained nearly as 
high during the da}'. 

SANITARY INFLUENCES, 

"Health, bri^ditest visitant of Heaven, 

With tliee — oil let me rest. 
In thy allotted years of nature given. 

Be thou my constant guest." 

The Suncook River from its source in the Guustoek 
Mountain range on the west side of Winnipesaugee Lake 
to its terminus in the Merrimac, is some more than fifty 
miles in length. It runs at the rate of three miles per 
hour ; so that in less than twenty-four hours its waters are 
changed and a new supply is constantly approaching. In 
its onward course it passes through Gilford, Gilmanton, 
Lower Gilmanton, Barnstead, Pittsfield, Epsom and Pem- 
broke, after receiving the contents of the various ponds, 
and all the springs from the highlands, it moves on and 
operates as a complete drainage to the counties of Belknap 
and Merrimac. 

In its approach to Barnstead from the northwest enter- 
ing the thirty-six square miles of its territory, it meanders 
onward forming in it two beautiful ponds of water, cover- 
ing a thousand of its acres, making a narrow inlet between 
them ; then leaving the ponds it takes a circuitous sweep 
around through the centre of the vale, thence onward to 
the great river Merrimac and to the sea. 

The flow of the stream is quite uniform, its banks being 
gi'avell}', and free from stagnant pools ; no impurities are 



1872 SANITARY INFLUENCES. 193 

left upon the landscape to engender disease or to load the 
atmosphere with unpleasant effluvia. The soil along its 
banks is for the most part a gravelly loam, laden in some 
places with loose granite boulders which the half frozen 
aqueous currents from the north at some day had dropped 
there. 

The valley of the Suncook in the north part of the town 
was formerly covered with dense forests of oak, and the 
more southern parts were shaded with pines of mammoth 
dimensions. Its timbeis in times past have been of great 
use in the furnishing of masts and in the building of ships. 
Aside from these, the original growth in many places was 
made up of beach, birch, maple, spruce and hemlock. But 
the valley of tlie Suncook has long since been sliorn of its 
rich groves. The woodman's axe is no longer heard there. 
Yet the plow and the sickle at this day encourage the 
farmer with their constant returns ; his heart is made glad 
by the bleatings of his flocks as well as by the voice of the 
meandering, beautiful Suncook. 

Health and long-life are common to Barnstead. Its 
first settlers cultivated the spirit of toil, endurance, and 
contentment, to which may be attributed the general 
longevity that attended them. Up to the j'ear 1830 the 
rate of mortality here was far below4he common average. 
In 1819 and 1820, however there were a few cases of spot- 
ted fever, of which two brothers by tiie name of Hall 
died. These young men on the da}- before they fell sick, 
on coming from the barn to tlie house, said they discovered 
a strange odor in the atmosphere. 

Consumption carries off generally at least one tliird 
part of the inhabitants of our towns and cities, but in this 
town such disease is much less frequent. 



194 HISTORY Ol' BAKNSTEAD. Ib72 

In 1853 the population of Barn.stead was 1870 ; aud at 
that time there were then living in it seventy-seven per- 
sons whose ages averaged 8-i j-ears. 



SEPTEMBER GALE. 



.Sept. 2o^ 1815, Barnstead was visited with the greatest 
gale in the midst of rain and storm, ever known there. 
Men and houses were injured, sheds were unroofed, fences 
blown down, and in many places the tall pines were laid 
level to the earth. The old primeval forest, some of which 
to that time had remained, which had stood the storms of 
centuries, and had been the resting places of the summer 
bird in the far by-gone years, were at once laid prostrate 
with up-turned roots. Hundreds of acres of valuable lum- 
ber along the valley of the Suncook fell in this gale. In 
many places it had to be burned and wast.ed in order to 
rid the soil of its incumbrance. 

At that time there was but little call for boards, clap- 
boards or shingles i^ the market — for this reason they 
were of but little profit, except for home use. The best of 
clear boards here at that time brought about $4 per M, at 
Dover or Durham $8, and clear rived shingle only about 
$1.75. Hence this gale brought much damage to the lum- 
bermen. It appeared in its greatest severity along the 
central part of New Hampshire, doing much damage all 
the way, as it swept onward from south to north. 



1872 



ITS LONG LIFP:, 



l9o 



LONGEVITY 



In the year 1853 the following (76) persons were then 
living in Barnstead, all of whom, as appears, were 7;') years 
of age and upwards : 



Samuel York, 82 
Charles Hodgdon, 89 
Moses Hodgdon, 76 
Mrs. M. Hodgdon, 80 
Josiali Pendergast, 83 
Solomon Pendergast. 77 
Mrs. S. Pendergast, 70 
Miss Sally Pendergast. 89 
Moses Cliesley. 79 
Mrs. M. Chesley, 77 
John Peavey, 79 
Isaac Garland, 80 
Mrs. I. Garland, 79 
John Colebath, 87 
Jonathan Keniston, 77 
Mrs. J. Keniston, 75 
Levi Clark, 79 
Mrs. L. Clark, 78 
Jeremiah Clark, 81 
Mrs. J. Clark, 80 
Jacob Willey. 86 
Mrs. J. Willey, 80 
Moses Bickford, 89 
Jeremiah Davis, 90 
Jacob Canney, 89 
Jethro Nutter, 90 
Isaac Willey, 78 
John Pitman, 88 



Samuel Hill. 77 
Mrs. S. Hill, 75 
Ebenezer Muucy, 81 
Mrs. E. Muncy, 7'> 
Stephen Hnzzj', 75 
Mi'S. S. Huzzy, 75 
John Nutter, 75 
Thomas Snell, 77 
Nathaniel Adams, 82 
Joseph P. Nutter, 76 
John Tebbetts, 82 
Samuel Bunker, 80 
Mrs. S. Bunker, 79 
Simeon Lougee, 76 
Samuel Caswell, 90 
Mrs. S. Caswell. 88 
Mrs. T. AVilson, 82 
Mrs. Eunice Straw, 77 
Mrs. Hitty Drew, 80 
Mrs. Deborah Rollins, 84 
Mrs. Lydia Shackford, 83 
Mrs. Oliver Daviy, 90 
Mrs. Betsey Littlefield, 87 
Mrs. Sally Drew, 84 
Mrs. Betsey Jacobs, 75 
Mrs. Lovey Bunker, 76 
Mrs. Nancy Bickford, 78 
Mrs. Dorothy Edgerly, 86 



19fi mSTOKY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

Jonah ritmau, 7G Mrs. Betsey Newall, 89 

Mrs. J. Pitmau, 75 Mrs. Patty Drew, 94 

Johu Saiiboru, 78 Mrs. Hannah Bcri-j-, 7C 

Miss Ann Davis, 83 INIrs. Esther Durgin, 89 

Miss Jane Muncy, 76 Mrs. Nancy Place, 82 

Miss Sally Nutter, 76 Mrs. Susan Babb, 77 

Miss Elsey Pitman. 75 Mrs. Dorothy Nutter, 87 

Mrs. Mary Hodgdon, 76 Mrs. Mary Pickering, 87 
Mrs. Tempereuce Jewett, 82 Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts, 86 

Mrs. Abigail Ayers, 77 Mrs. Susan Durgiu, 89 

Mrs. Joseph Bunker died in 1817, aged 107 years, and 
Samuel Caswell died in 18G5, aged 107 years. 

Of this number forty were over fourscore years, five 
were over ninety, forty-six were females, twenty-seven 
were widows, three were maiden ladies, and sixteen had 
husbands. 

Of the males thirtj'-seven were married, and one a 
bachelor. Five of them averaged 102 years ; the eldest 
was 107, the youngest 99. It is believed no town in New 
England for health and longevity sustains a better record. 



CASUALTIES. 



1790. — A murder is surmised, a stranger is missing, 
his horse feeds by the way-side near John Drew's barn, 
but the rider is lost, and never found. 

1808. — Benjamin Brown, from Collins' boat, upset in 
the Suncook, and was drowned. 



1872 CASUALTIES. 197 

1812 — The house and barn of Wm. Lord in a cold night 
is consumed bj^ fire. 

1813. — Samuel Rand's house takes fire and is consumed. 

181-1.— Nov. 28, a great earthquake happens. 

1815. — The bones of a supposed murdered man are 
found near Centre Barnstead. 

1815. — The great '-September gale" unroofs our dwell- 
ing houses and destroys the pine forest. 

1818. — Mrs. P. Young, while on horseback, fell from 
the saddle and was killed by the fall. 

1820. — Mrs. J. Clark, residing in the east of the town, 
was killed by lightning. 

1824. — A child of Timothy Bunker was drowned in a 
pool of water. 

1826. — Mrs. J. Bunker committed suicide in her own 
house. 

1828. — Joseph Peavey,the only son of John, was killed 
at his father's grist mill. The revolving mill-stone split 
in two pieces, was thrown upon him, killing him instantly. 

1829. — Isaac E. Goodwin hanged himself in Nutter's 
woods. Eight months elapsed before the body was found. 
The joints in this time had extended, increasing its length 
nearlj^ a foot and a half. He is said to have been insane. 

1832. — John Sanborn, the son of Frank, from Gilman- 
ton, leaving his team here, jumped into a well and was 
drowned. 

1834. — Capt. George Chesley fell under the wheels of 
a hea^y ox-cart and was killed instantly. 

1834. — A man by the name of Davis drowned himself 
in the Suncook, near the Parade. 



198 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

1840. — The house, barn, and out-buiklings of Rev. 
Enos George, together with the house, barn, and shop of 
John Kaime, were consumed by fire, at mid-day. The fire 
took from a flash of lightning. 

1842. — George Stevens drowned himself in the Sun- 
cook. _ ^ 

1,S45. — A son of the late Timoth3^ Bunker fell into a 
wheel-pit at Manchester, and was killed. 

1850. — The old Robinson Tavern house, owned by S. 
D. Nutter, with all its stables and sheds, was consumed 
by fire. 

BONES. 

About the yetxv 1812, while the farmers were at work 
on the highway extending its width, they plowed up a 
skeleton. A man had obA-iously been buried there not 
long previously by a murderer, who had sought conceal- 
ment in that tliicket by the waysifle. 

This event caused much excitement, the bones were 
not re-buried, but were taken to the porch of the Parade 
Church, and being deposited under its stairs, remained 
there for identification for many months. They served in 
the mean time as a common bugbear to the people of the 
neighborhood, impressing them with tragical adventures 
and bloody deeds ; and for a long time the bludgeon of the 
murderer, the dying groan, and the spirit of the dead man 
still seemed in sight, hovering over these tragic bones. 

In the course of a 3xar or two this skeleton w^as ob- 
tained by a lady from abroad whose husband had disap- 
peared mysteriously at about the time of the supposed 
murder, and who had uever returned. Many years will 
elapse e'er the bones beneath the stair-way will cease to be 
remembered. 



1872 ASTRONOMICAL. 199 



COMETS. 



Comets are aseertained to be " large opaque bodies 
moving around the sun in various directions and in very 
eccentric orbits." Tliey are wonderful in their motion 
and appearance, coming and going ; some returning but 
once in 75, some in 100, and some in 1.50 years, there 
being no particular uniformity as to their times of return- 
ing. Formerly the}' were regarded l)}^ the superstitious as 
being the harbingers of pestilence, war or famine, filling 
the timid mind with fearful forebodings for the safety of 
the state, the throne, or the nation. But in our day they 
are viewed difterently. In the time of Nero one was visi- 
ble at Rome, appearing in the heavens as large as the sun 
itself. It was said also by the Astronomer Hevelius, that 
a comet appeared in 1652, which in size was not less than 
the moon, though its light was pale and dim. There are 
some hundreds of them. Their orbits though more ellip- 
tical than those of the planets, can be calculated with some 
degree of certainty. The tail of the comet sometimes ex- 
tends an immense distance across the heavens, but does 
not thus continue for many da3's. Its length, however, ap- 
pears longer or shorter, according to the location from 
which it is viewed. 

The comet of 1664 was visible three months, and cre- 
ated many superstitious apprehensions among our New 
England settlers. Although the coming of the comets, as 
the world grows older, brings less of surprise, yet they 
alwaj's are, and probably always will be looked at with 



200 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

wonder, each of itself, as it approaches, atfording to the 
world a subject of curious speculation. 

The comet of 1843 was seen in the day time by the 
editor of this work, at Limerick Village, Maine. The fol- 
lowing is copied from his note book of that date : 

"Feb. 28, 1843. — The great comet makes its appear- 
ance east of the sun at 11 o'clock, A. M. It is seen by 
the naked eye and its train is very conspicuous. In the 
evening it is seen from 7 to 9 o'clock, its tail extending 
from the west (as it followed the sun down), towards the 
southeast, a distance of nearly 70°, the nucleus or body 
of the comet not being seen, having gone down. This 
trail extending back, each succeeding evening as above 
described, is seen up to April 5, 1843. The motion of this 
comet in passing around the sun was from west to east." 

Noah Webster saj^s : "When the Comet is westward of 
the sun and rises or sets before it, the light appears in the 
morning like a train, beginning at the bod^' of the Comet, 
and extending westward and diverging in proportion to its 
extent. Thus the comet of 1769, (which lie saw), when 
it rose in the morning presented a luminous train that ex- 
tended nearl}^ from the horizon to the meridian." 

The comet of November, 1680, first seen in Boston, 
exhibited a long trail and continued visible until the 24th 
of January, 1681. The record which the colonists then 
made of it runs as follows : 

"Since it is that those things are not sent for nothing, 
though man cannot say particularly for what ; they are 
thought by most people to be fore-runners of evil coming 
upon the world, though some think, otherwise." 



1872 ORNITHOLOGICAL. 201 



BIRDS. 



" Vernal songsters all In chorus, 
Warbling through the matin hour." 

Perhaps there is no place where these almost domestic 
and beautifully plumaged choristers can be found in great- 
er profusion than along the verdant banks of the Suncook, 
and around the wooded recesses of the ponds of Barnstead. 

BLUE BIRD. 

The blue bird coming about the middle of March is the 
harbinger of Spring. The robin follows soon, and then in 
flocks they come, until the groves are made joyfully vocal 
with the melody of their music. How oft have we waited 
there, how oft have we listened, entranced by their ten 
thousand warblings, chanting their lovely notes as if upon 
a double quiver scale, in solo, in duett, and in chorus, they 
had been trained of angels ! 

ROBIN. 

At morn the robin red-breast is early awake ; he is con- 
stantly a favorite, seeking our shade-trees and orchards ; 
is always prone to feast on our bounty, never failing as if in 
a returned favor to make us his melodious, friendly calls, 
awakening us to the inspirations of the day, and leading us 
by a noble example, to the varied duties incidental to a 
happy and cheerful life. 

WHIP-POOR-WILL. 

At eve we are often moved almost to sadness, at the 
lovely, lonely, never-tiring song, of the "Whip-poor-will." 

26 



202 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

Sometimes he takes bis stand on the barn or shed, or on a 
low tree, repeating over and over again for three or four 
hours together his plaintive note. At early morn be re- 
treats to the forest, and through the da}^ remains unseen. 
But soon as the evening shades appear he skims low, darts 
out and after obtaining his repast, again takes his stand, 
and the landscape is again made vocal l\y the same old 
song. 

We are not aware that any harm has ever come to 
"poor Will," notwithstanding he has apparently been so 
often threatened to be whipped. 

BLACK MARTIN. 

The black martin is an annual visitant, coming always 
(as it is said) on the 11th of April. His domestic habits 
bring him about our dwelling-Iiouses, and his song is brief 
but pleasant. His ijote is clear and ma}- be heard from 
early morn until evening. He disappears early in the fall 
and is seen no more here until the precise day which ap- 
pears to have been appointed for his return. 

Most of the birds come in May, build their nests, raise 
their young, and leave, some of them, as earlj' as the last 
of July. 

THE ORIOLE. 

The Oriole with his choice musical notes stag's much 
longer. Who of us have not been delighted with his song, 
while he stands waiving in his high colored beautiful 
plumage, on the top of a lofty elm? All at once he turns 
and darts into his beautiful wrought hanging nest, at the 
end of a high-up limb, and our entertainment for the time 



1872 ORNITHOLOGICAL. 203 

being is thus abruptly brouglit to an end. Such enchant- 
ments are indeed productive of interest and tend to fill the 
veins of our hearts with joy and health, and at the same 
time elevating our conceptions of the wisdom and sublimity 
of Nature's God. The notes used by birds as well as the 
voices of animals are doubtless the same now as in the 
earliest days. Birds use language according to the condi- 
tion which attends them. Their mating call, their moan 
of danger, and their shriek of alarm cannot easily be mis- 
understood. These little "tenants of the air," as they 
bring to us yearly profitable lessons and entertainments, 
are entitled to our most tender regards and protection ; 
yet, jiow often are their rights invaded by heedless hands. 
The following story is in point and may prove profitable : 

•' A matron wood-thrush built a nest, 
And then sat down to take her rest, 
While sitting there upon her eggs, 
A snare was tetliered l#her legs. 
Ye heartless dogs that did the deed. 
Shall rue it for your cruel greed, 
To cheat and rob the feathered tribe 
Of eggs and all they have beside. 
To them, as favorites from above. 
To rove the air, to live and love. 
To cheer all nature with a song. 
Both life and liberty belong. 
This bird by no means injured you. 
With her or hers you'd nought to do. 
Cursed be the heart, the hand, the twine. 
That steals away that right divine 1 
Such right most dear your mother knows ; 
When to her ear this story goes, 
She'll make you dance upon your pegs, 
With the ' ile of birch ' about the legs. 

In caution kind a lesson take, 
„ Oh, never prove yourself a rake, 

, But live to learn and try to make 

The world more happy for your sake !" 

[Caperli/^s I'oems, Vol. 1, p. r?.] 



204 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 



MILITARY. 



Immediately after the war of the Revohitiou, a military 
pride pervaded most of the towns in New Hampsliire. As 
Barnstead increased in population, its soldiers became 
numerous and seemed to have been inspired of a laudable 
ambition in the performance of military duty. Yet there 
was a law with a penalty requiring all able-bodied men 
between the ages of 18 and 45 j^ears to be called out, and 
to perform that service, well armed and equipped, the train- 
ings being at least three days in a year. Barnstead, 
Gilmanton, and Gilford constituted the 10th New Hamp- 
shire Regiment. The battalion drill was often held on 
Barnstead Parade, even before a full regiment had been 
organized. At that time ^he company of cavalry was 
quite numerous and imposing. The red coats, the butf 
pants, the stove-pipe hat begirt with red silk, the two ends 
of the silk hanging down on the shoulders, the white 
feather with its red top, the bear-skin holsters on the front 
of the saddle holding heavy pistols, and the long sword 
hanging by the side, gave to both men and officers an ap- 
pearance war-like and majestic ; emphatically did a hundred 
of these warriors so appear when seen on the parade, 
moving at the rate of a double quick. These, together 
with the light infantry, artillery and infantry, always 
proved themselves the pride of the crowds of men, women, 
and boys, that usually surrounded the field on parade days. 

A noble specimen of an officer was Capt. George Ches- 
le}' of the artillery, with his Napoleon hat, long blue coat^ 
blue pants faced with red, and long sword. His select 



1872 MILITARY. 205 

compaii}^ of larp;e men, six feet two, all at the drag-ropes 
moving their six ponnders ; the rattle of the heavj' wheels 
of artillery, and the frequent explosions of fire and thunder 
from the cannon, often brought fear as well as amusement 
to the surrounding spectators. 

When the general officers on their prancing steads were 
escorted to the field, they were received with martial 
salutes ; and then there was music in the words of com- 
mand as well as from the bands that received them. 

After the militia of these three towns was concentrated 
into one regiment, the Regimental Musters were usually 
held at Tilton's Field, in Gilmantou, that being the most 
central locality. Officers were usually selected from the 
best men, among whom were Col. Bickford, Col. Peavey, 
Col. Hoitt, Col. Dow, Col. Moulton, Col. Walker, and 
others of the grade of Lieut. Colonels, Captains, and 
subalterns, long to be remembered, but too numerous 
to be mentioned in this work. The military spirit, disci- 
pline and efficiency of officers of the olden time, were 
always instructive and interesting. For example, the 
orders given by the chief in command, loud and distinct, 
were at once caught and repeated, each word by itself, 
from one officer to another, and thus were they telegraphed ; 
and they were clearly understood by every soldier, so that 
at the last word "march" every foot in the Regiment 
moved like clock-work. 

The old Tenth Regiment consisted of one company of 
cavalry numbering 150, and seventeen companies of foot, 
in all about 1500 men. Some of the officers and soldiers 
above named had served in the war of 1812. 

The trainings were attended by wrestling parties, 
numerous shows, auctions, circuses, and monkeys ; and 



206 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

were ahvays enlivened b}' music and dancing, with occa- 
sional drinks. 

Parade daj^s, like those, are at this period unknown in 
New Hampshire. Yet they are remembered. One of them 
a few years since Avas truthfully' described in a local ne\vs- 
paper bj' a lad}', who resides at the Parade. The pro- 
duction being regarded as valuable for its historic as well 
as poetical interest, we copy it : 

THE GLD-FASHIO^'ED TRAINING. 



In tlie halcyou days of the olrlen time, 

AVbeu our jolly grandfathers were in their prime, 

When lieroic deeds were so valiantly done. 

And when bloodless battles were fought and won. 

There were few gayer scenes, I have often heard said. 

Than were those at the trainings on Barnstead Parade. 



They came from .all quarters ; the young and the old, 

The eager-eyed boy and the officer bold; 

And the women and girls in their Sunday trim, 

In those funny old bonnets that looked so prim. 

With the round ruffled cape and the work-bag, too. 

And the narrow gored dress and tlie high-heeled shoe. 



When the red-coated troop dashed over the green. 

In the brightest of colors that ever were seen; 

While banner-like waved the long plumes that they wore. 

And the horse-pistols shone in their holsters before; 

AVhile music was wringing from bugle and horn, 

Oil! it was like magic to those looking on! 



The artillery in blue coats, faced with red, 
AVith heavy-plumed, crescent-shaped caps on each head. 
Brought their old six-pounder, that thundered so loud. 
Spreading terror and dread througli the startled crowd. 
How the echo resounded, still higher and higher. 
Like a hostile army returning their fire. 



1872 THE OLD-FASHIONED TRAINING. ., 207 



With what stately step the light infantry came ; 

The garments they wore are still living in fame ; 

The white pants and blue coats, the bell buttons and all, 

And those stiff-leather caps that were terribly tall; 

And the long, snowy plumes that were tipped with red. 

And nodded and halted in time with their tread. 



Three, too, were the flood-wood — the slam-bang corps. 

That numbered a hundred and oftentimes more; 

Some were tall, some wore short, some crooked, some straight, 

Some were prompt to keep step, and some halting in gait; 

Un-uniformed men, and with no taste for war, 

They came to tl^e training obeying the law. 

VII. 

Their weapons were brought from the workshops and farms, — 

They were fowling-pieces and old "Queen's arms," — 

Some were long, some were short, some were old and some new ; 

But all were well cleaned for th' inspector' to view ; 

And each man brought, as the law did require. 

His two spare flints, and a brush and priiuing-wire. 

Till. 
O, the drummers of those days drummed with a will. 
And the tones of the old-fashioned fifes were shrill ; 
In a minor key they would rattle away. 
Through solemn old marches and quicksteps gay. 
" Adams and Liberty," and '' Hail to the Chief," 
Were popular airs that stood out in relief. 



When the sergeants had formed the long line with care. 

And every man stood in his proper place tliere ; 

When the roll had been called and all had said "Here," 

While each pompous captain was bustling near; 

On a prancing steed, with an escorting band. 

Major Nutter rode on to take the command. 

X. 

What authority dwelt in his resolute face ! 

And what dignity shone in his stately pace I 

How his sword gleamed and flashed in the sunlight fair 

How his high-toned voice rang out on the air : 

"At-tkntiox, Bat-talion!" Each man of the host. 

Witli closely clasped weapon, stood firm at his post. 



208 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 187i 

XI. 

They shouldered arms, carried arms, right-faced and wheeled; 
They marched and they counter-marched over the field; 
They went double-quick, and they halted and fired, 
And marched in platoons till they must have been tired. 
And, often, before they broke ranks for the night, 
Lines of battle were formed and they had a sham fight. 



The spectators, waiting round all the while. 
Found varied amusements, the time to beguile. 
There was swapping of horses and trying their pace; 
Some were wrestling, some fighting, some running a race. 
And around the side tents there would always be some. 
Eating crackers and fish and drinking new rum. 



And there in some nook would be veteran Joe Place, 
With violent gestures and angry red face. 
Repeating the stories, we may be assured. 
Of dangers encountered and hardships endured, 
When they fought those " rascally red-coats " to kill. 
At White Plains and Monmouth and on Bunker Hill. 

XIV. 

Amidst the confusion of noises so queer. 

The squeak of a fiddle might fall on the ear; 

And some merry group would be found standing by, 

To hear the gay fiddling of black Herman Tye; 

While two, with coats oft" and with faces aglow, 

Would be dancing a "break-down" with both heel and toe. 



When the twilight came on, the training was done. 
And the trainers went homeward, one by one ; 
Each with his bundle of ginger-bread tied 
In a bandana handkerchief close by his side; 
And many a footstep would stagger astray, 
When the music had died in the distance away. 



Gone is the brave major, and gone nearly all 
The voices that answered the ancient roll-call. 
And many are silently sleeping alone, 
In old corner graveyards, unmarked and unknown. 
While the tramping of troops and warlike sound 
Are heard no more on the old Parade ground. 



1872 CHRONOLOGICAL. 209 

OLD STYLE. (O. S.) 



Prior to 1752, the years commenced on the twenty- 
fifth of March. 

As time had been reckoned up to that year, its com- 
putation during a long period "laad by degrees carried the 
Winter a considerable distance into the Spring. 

To remedy this irregularity. Parliament, on January 22 , 
1752, passed an Act ordering eleven days to be dropped out 
from the calendar, so that September 3rd, of that year, 
should be called the 14th ; and this they denominated — 
New Style (N. S.). 

PROMINENT EVENTS. 

1492 — Columbus discovered America. 

1586 — Sir Francis Drake visited the New England 
shores. 

1600 — Canada was settled by the French. 

1607 — Virginia was settled by the English. 

1614 — Capt. John Smith explored this part of the New 
World. 

1620 — A Dutch ship brought negro slaves to Virginia. 
Pilgrims landed. 

1623 — New Hampshire had settlements at Dover and 
at Little Harbor. 

1624 — First ca'tle imported to New England. 

1628 — The foundation was laid for the Colony of Mas- 
sachusetts Bay. 

1635 — Roger Williams is banished from Massachusetts 
Bay. 



210 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

1G38 — June 1st. There was a great earthquake iu 
New England. 

1G39 — First printing in New England. 

1641 — The use of tobacco was prohibited in Massachu- 
setts. 

1G42 — First Commencement at Harvard College ; nine 
graduated. 

Great training in Boston ; 1200 men, and none drunk. 

1642 — Darby Field, bewildered, was lost on Mt. Wash- 
ington. 

1643 — James Britton and Mary Latham are executed, 
charged witli adulter3\ 

1644 — Ana-baptists are banished. 

1652 — First money made at Boston. 

1658 — Death penalty as against Quakers. 

1659 — Wm. Robinson and M. Stevenson executed on 
Boston Common. 

1662 — Children of respectable parents although non- 
professors allowed baptism. 

1663 — The Indian Bible, by Eliot, is printed in Cam- 
bridge. 

1663 — Baptists are imprisoned for holding meetings. 

1670 — The title Reverend is first applied to clergjanen. 

1675 — Phillip's war commences, 650 settlers in New 
England lose their lives. 

1675 — First public fast is held in New England. 

1677 — Fine and imprisonments is imposed for attend- 
ing Quaker Meetings. 

1677 — Price for labor £10 per year, — for a woman's 
work £4. 

1679 — New Hampshire is made a separate government 
by a commission from England. 



1872 CHRONOLOGICAL. 211 

1G80 — Baptists are forbidden to hold meetings in 
Boston, the doors ot the church are nailed up by the mag- 
istrates. 

1680 — Major Waldron killed in Dover, by the Indians. 

1681 — Mason comes and asserts his title to lands in 
New Hampshire, but is resisted and leaves the state. 

1682 — New Hampshire has four towns and 4000 in- 
habitants. 

1692 — -Twenty persons are executed at Salem, for 
witchcraft. 

1693 — First post-office is established in Boston, and 
common drunkards are posted there. 

1696 — There are thirty Indian churches in New Eng- 
land. 

1701 — Kidd, the pirate, is sent to England to be exe- 
cuted. 

1702 — Small-pox prevails in Boston, 500 die. 

1704 — The News-Letter, the first newspaper in Amer- 
ica is printed. 

1712 — Paper money is made a legal tender. 

1715 — Singing books are introduced here for the first 
time. 

1715 — Population of New Hampshire, 9500. It issues 
£15,000 in paper money. 

1719 — Potatoes were first raised at Andover. 

1720 — Tea was first used in New England. 

1721 — Inoculation for smallpox was first practised. 

1724 — The highest tides in the midst of a violent storm. 

1725 — A reward is off'ered for Indian scalps. 

1730 — Seven million dollars in goods are imported to 
New England. 

1731 — George Washington was born. 



212 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

1735 — All epidemic, a putrid sore tliroat, prevails in 
New Hampshire. 

1739 — George Whitfield visits America, and is the 
leader in a great revival. 

1746 — Concord was invaded by Indians. 

1750 — Paper money is discarded. New Hampshire has 
24,000 inhaV)itants. 

1752 — Benjamin Franklin experiments with electricity. 

1756 — War between the French and English. 

1759 — Sept. 13, Quebec is taken by the English, and 
Wolfe and Montcalm are both killed. 

1759 — George n dies, and George III succeeds him. 

1765 — The stamp act was passed. Boston had 15,500 
inhabitants. 

1768 — British troops arrive in Boston. 

1770 — Several are killed at the Boston Massacre. Tea 
is no longer in general use. 

1773 — Tea is destroyed in the Boston harbor. 

1774 — Shakers increase. Ann Lee was their leader. 

1774_Popalation of New England was 102,000. 

1775 — Fight at Lexington, April 19. 

1775 — Battle at Bunker's Hill, June 17. 

1775 — Washington takes command of the arm}' at 
Cambridge, July 2. 

1775 — Paper inone}' was issued by Congress. 

1775 — Benjamin Franklin was the first Postmaster 
General. 

1776 — The British evacuate Boston. 

1777 — LaFayette joins the Americans in their struggle 
for independence. 

1777 — General Burgoj'ue surrendered. 

1778 — The Sandwich Islands were discovered by Capt. 
Cook. 



1872 SYNCHROLOGY. 



213 



1779_Siege of Charleston, S. C. 

1 780 — Charleston surrenders. 

1780 — Major Andre is executed as a spy. 

1781 — New London was burnt b}^ the British, 

1781 — Yorktown, by Lord Cornwallis, is surrendered to 
Washington. 

1782 — A provisional treaty with the United States, 
signed b}^ England at Paris. 

1783— Independence of the United States acknowl- 
edged by Sweden ; Feb. 25, by Denmark ; March 24, by 
Spain. 

1783— The American army is disbanded. 

SYNCHROLOGY MORE MODERN. 

1860. 

jsTov. 6.— Abraham Lincoln is elected President of the 
United States. 

Nov. 10.— South Carolina takes measures to raise ten 
thousand troops, and proposes secession. 

Nov. 18.— Georgia Legislature votes $1,000,000 to arm 
the state. 

Dec. 20. — Tiie South Carolina Convention adopts a 
secession ordinance unanimously. 

1861. 

Jan. 2. — Georgia troops seize Fort Pulaski, &c., and 
Gov. Ellis of North Carolina takes possession of Fort 
Macon. 

Jan. 4. — Gov. Moore of Alabama, seized Fort Morgan 
and the U. S. Arsenal at Mobile. 

Jan. 9. — The Star of the West is fired on by the rebel 



214 HISTORY Oi^ BARNSTEAD. 1872 

batteries in Charleston Harbor, and driven back. On 
this day the Mississippi Convention passed an ordinance 
of secession. 

The Florida Convention did the same on the 
10th, Alabama on the 11th, Georgia on the 19th, Louisiana 
on the 26th, North Carolina on the 30th, Texas on the 4th 
of March, and Virginia on the 17th of April then next 
following. 

Feb. 9. — Jefferson Davis and A. H. Stevens are elected 
provisional President and Vice-President of the Southern 
Confederacy. 

April 15. — President Lincoln calls for 75,000 volun- 
teers. 

April 16. — The Governors of Kentuck}-, Virginia, Ten- 
nesee, and Missouri, refuse to furnish troops to quell the 
rebellion. 

April 19. — The 6th Mass. Regiment in passing through 
Baltimore were attacked b3' a mob, and several soldiers 
were slain on the one side and citizens on the other. 

May 3. — President Lincoln calls for 60,000 Volunteers 
for the Army and Navy, for three 3'ears. 

May 10. — Major General Robert E. Lee assumes com- 
mand of the Rebel forces in Virginia. 

June 13. — Queen Victoria issues a Proclamation of 
Neutrality. 

July 21.— Battle of Bull Run. 

Aug. 15. — Jefferson Davis orders all Northern men to 
leave the South in fort}'' days. 

Sept. 21. — John C. Breckinridge, late Vice-President 
of the United States, openly joined the Rebels. 

Oct. 29. — Great Naval expedition under Commodore 
Dupont ; General T. W. Sherman, in command of land 
forces, leaves Fortress Monroe. 



1872 SYNCROLOGY. 215 

Nov. 1. — Lieutenant General Scott resigns the com- 
mand-in-chief of the Union armies, and General McClellan 
appointed in his place. 

1862. 

Feb. 8. — Battle of Roanoke Island. 

Feb. 16. — Fort Donelson captured. 

Feb. 22. — Jeff. Davis re-inaugurated President of the 
C. S. A., at Richmond. 

March 9. — Engagement between the Monitor and 
Merrimac, in Hampton Roads. 

April 6. — Battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing. 

April 7. — Surrender of Island No. 10. 

April 10. — Surrender of Port Pulaski. 

May 3. — Yorktown evacuated by the Rebels. 

May 31. — Battle of Seven Pines and Fair Oaks. 

June 26. — Commencement of seven days' battle before 
Richmond. 

July 1. — President Lincoln calls for three hundred 
thousand men. Battle of Malvern Hills, and close of the 
seven days' struggle. 

Aug. 4. — President Lincoln calls for three hundred 
thousand nine months' troops. 

Aug. 9. — Battle of Cedar Mountain. 

Aug. 29. — Second battle of Bull Run. 

Sept. 14. — The battle of South Mountain. 

Sept, 17. — Battle of Antietam. 

Oct. 3.— Battle of Corinth. 

Nov. 7. — General McClellan relieved of the command 
of the Army of the Potomac by Gen. Burnside. 

Dec. 13. — Battle of Fredericksburg. 



216 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

1863. 

Jan. 1. — President Lincoln issues his Emancipation 
Proclamation. ^ 

Ma_y 3. — Battle of Chancellorsville. 

May 10. — Stonewall Jackson died at Richmond. 

May 18. — General Grant invests Vicksburg. 

May 28. — The first Colored Regiment from the North 
left Boston. 

June 15. — Rebels invade Pennsylvania. President Lin- 
coln calls for one hundred thousand more men to repel in- 
vasion. 

July 3. — Third and last day of the battle of Gettys- 
burg, Pa. 

Jul}' 4. — Vicksburg surrenders to Gen. Grant. 

Jul}' 8. — Surrender of Port Hudson to General Banks. 

July 13. — Commencement of the great Draft Riot in 
New York. 

July 14. — Draft Riot in Boston. 

Aug. 12. ^Robert Toombs publishes a letter exposing 
the bankruptcy of the Southern Confederacy. 

Aug. 17. — Grand bombardment of Fort Sumter com- 
menced by the Yankees. 

Oct. 17. — President Lincoln calls for three hundred 
thousand more men. 

Oct. 19. — Dedication of the National Cemetery at 
Gettysburg. 

Oct. 28. — Battle of Lookout Mountain. 

Nov. 25. — Third and last day of the battle of Chatta- 
nooga ; results in the complete rout of the enemy. 

Dec. 4. — Long-street's retrea,t from Knoxville, Teuu. 

Dec. 8. — President Lincoln issues his Amnesty Proc- 
lamation. 



1872 SYNCHROLOGY. 217 

18G4. 

Feb. 1.— Draft ordered for 500,000 men. 

March 9. — Major General Grant receives his commis- 
sion as Lieutenant General from President Lincoln. 

March 12. — General Grant appointed Commander-in- 
Chief of the United States Army. 

March 15. — President Lincoln calls for two hundred 
thousand more men. 

May 11. — General Grant " proposes to fight it out on 
this line." 

May 27. — Lee retreats towards Riclimond. 

May 28. — Great battle between Sherman and Long- 
street. 

June 19. — Pirate Alabama sunk by the U. S. S. Kear- 
sarge. 

June 22. — House of Representatives resolved to abolish 
Slavery. 

July 13. — Rebel General Forrest defeated infiveditier- 
ent battles in three days. 

Jul}^ 22. — Hood attacks Sherman's lines around At- 
lanta ; Rebel loss, 20,000. 

Aug. 5. — Farragut's great victory in Mobile Bay. 

Sept. 1. — General Hood evacuates Atlanta. 

Oct. 7. — The Pirate Florida captured by U. S. S. Wau- 
chusett. 

Oct. 19.— Battle of Cedar Creek. 

Nov. 5. — General Butler assumes command in New 
York City, to meet existing emergencies. 

Nov. 8. — President Lincoln re-elected. Gen. McClellan 
resigns his commission. 

Nov. 9. — Sherman begins his march through Georgia. 



218 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

1.SG5. 

Jan. 15. — Capture of Fort Fisher, Wilmington Harbor. 

Feb. 18.— Charleston, S. C, occupied. 

March 2. — Sheridan defeated Early, and captured over 
a thousand of his men. 

April 2. — Assault along the whole line in front of 
Petersburg ; twelve thousand prisoners and fifty pieces of 
artillery captured. 

April 3. — The Union forces under General Weitzel 
occupy Richmond. 

April 9. — Surrender of General Lee and his whole arni}^ 
to General Grant. 

April 14. — Assassination of President Lincoln by J. 
Wilkes Booth, an actor, and attempted murder of W. H. 
Seward, Secretary of State. 

April 15. — Death of President Lincoln. 

April 2G. — J. Wilkes Booth is killed, and PLarrold, an 
accomplice, is taken. Surrender of Gen. Johnson and all 
the troops in his department to Gen. W. T. Sherman. 

May 10. — Jeff. Davis captured under peculiar circum- 
stances. 



POPULATION. 



Barnstead, as we have seen, was Chartered in 1727; 
was incorporated in 1727 ; is in Belknap County, N. H. ; 
is 18 miles northeast of Concord, and 500 miles from 
Washington City. Its population in 1840 Avas 1,945 ; in 
1850 it was 1,848 ; in 18G0 it was 1,885 ; in 1870 it was 
1,544. 



1872 WAR AGAIN. 219 

THE GREAT REBELLION. ^ 



This conflict was prompted by an inordinate ambition 
in tlie slave state leaders, who songht to extend and per- 
petnate their pecnliar institution, an institution on which 
they had for many j^ears been combined and confederated, 
and who, by force of it, undertook to overturn the Govern- 
ment and to make tliemselves conquerers, 

Barnstead was not indifferent to the public weal in 
such an emergency. In the war of the Revolution her 
sons had acted well their part. It is worthy of praise that 
b}' the *■' test list " of that day, not a man could be found 
within the lines of Barnstead, who was not ti'ue to the 
Constitution, and ready to help fight the battles of his 
conntrj'. (See Appendix, C.) 80 it was in the conflict of 
1812, and so it has ever been, and thus, as we trust, it 
ever will Ije. The soldiers of Barnstead who gave battle 
against the Rebellion were as follows : 

THREE months' MEN. 

First Regiment, N. H. Vols. — "VVra. B. Aikin, Frank 
Sleeper, George H. Bridges, Dudley. 

First Regiment, N. H. Heavy Artillery, (3 3'ears). — 
William Brimage. 

Fourth Regiment, N. H. Vols. (3 3'ears). — Enos Geo. 
Hodgdon, killed in battle. 

THREE years' MEN. 

Eighth Regiment, N. H. Vols. — Henry H. Huse, Captain 
at first, then a Major. John H. Greenwood, Sergeant at 



220 



HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 



1872 



first, then a Lieutenant, killed in battle. Samuel J. 
Smart, Sergeant at first, then a Lieutenant, died in camp. 



Daniel D. Hanscoin, re-enlist- 
ed. 

Frank Sleeper, re-enlisted. 

Lewis M. Jackson, died of 
wounds received in battle. 

Rufus Clark. 

James E. Bunker. 

Smith Davis, re-enlisted. 

Thomas M. Huse. 

John S. Hill, re-enlisted. 



Daniel Lewis, re-enlisted. 

James E. Moses, re-enlisted. 

Benjamin R. Munsey, died. 

John T. G. Smart, died in camp. 

Samuel G. Shackford. 

Chas. H. Williams, re-enlisted. 

Albert Davis, re-eulisted. 

William B. Aikin, re-enlisted. 

David A. Littlefield. 

John M. Smart, died in camp. 



This regiment left New Hampshire in January, 1862 ; 
their service Avas in Louisiana. 

Twelfth Regiment, N. IL Vols, (o years). — Colonel, 
Thomas E. Barker. First enlisted in Co. B, 2d N. H., 
was in all the battles of his regiment, except Gettysburg, 
was captured at Bull Run, was ten months in Salisbury 
prison, N. C, and afterwards recruited a comiian}- in Barn- 
stead and Gilmanton in six days, commanded it, and was 
then promoted to the command of his regiment, was 
wounded at Chancellorsville, served during the war and 
was discharged with his regiment in 1865 ; resides now at 
Lynnfield, Mass. 



Benjamin F. Chesley. 

Calvin Pitman. 

Jonathan McNeal. 

Winsor P. Huntress, killed in 

battle at Chancellorsville. 
Joseph W. Hill, died of wounds 

received at Cold Harbor. 
John S. Hayes, died of wounds 

received at Chancellorsville. 



Arthur C. Newall, a medical ca- 
det, then assistant surgeon. 

Thomas Moore, wounded. 

John L. Garland, killed in bat- 
tle. 

Calvin Chesley. 

George W. Pitman. 

John L. Piper. 

George W. Aiken, died. 



1872 



THE REBELLION. 



221 



Joseph N. Bimker, killed at Cold 
Harbor. 

Thomas J. Pierce, died of 
wounds received at Cliaucel- 
lorsville. 

Joseph Peudergast, died. 

Alviu D. Hall. 

Solomon W. Young. 

William T. Knight, killed at 
Gettj'sburg. 

Moses Bickford. 

J. M. Tasker, a color-bearer, 
wounded at Chancellorsville, 
and then a Lieutenant, trans- 
ferred to the Invalid Corps. 

David Sackett.' 

Hem-y H. Emerson. 

Melvin Jenkins. 



J. H. Edgerly. 

Horace M. Parshley. 

Arthur L. Bickford. 

George Jones. 

Solomon Clark. 

Joseph C. Russell. 

Wm. H. Berry, died of wounds 

'at Chaucellorsville. 
Geo.T.Munsey, died of wounds 

at Chaucellorsville. 
Noble Sackett. 
Charles H. Pickering. 
C. H. P. Young. 
Wm. LI. Shaw. 
Horace Edgerly, a private, 

then a Lieutenant. 
Horace Munsey, died in tlie 

service. 



Tbe above regiment served in Virginia from Sep- 
tember, 1SG2, up to tlie close of the war. 

Thirteenth Regiment, N. H. Vols. (3 years).— Lafay- 
ette Place. 



NINE MONTHS MEN. 



Fifteenth Regiment, N. H., Vols.— Thomas M. Huso, 
First Lieutenant ; Christopher C. Pickering, Second Lieu- 
tenant. 



AVilliam A. Frye. 
George W. Blake. 
Jeremiah E. Emerson. 
George H. Emerson. 
Hanson H. Young. 
.James M. Jones. 
John F. Chesley. 



John Hill, died. 
D. L. Huse, died. 
Charles W. Adams. 
Orrin F. Chesley. 
J. F. Parker. 
Royal Boyuton. 
Albert S. Buzzell. 



222 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

Timothy Blake, Jr. Jobu C. Mason, died, 

William A. Chesley. Hazeu D. Nutter, died. 

Jaeob Lord. 

This regiment did service in Louisiana. It left New 
Hampshire for the seat of war in October, 18(52. 

OXE year's men. 
Eighteenth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers. 

Horatio G. Shackford. Charles Kaime. 

Samuel H. Clark. Horace Cough. 

Geoi'ge W. Blake. James C. Kaime. 

Eli H. Foss. Noble Sackett. 

Alvah O. Adams. Nathaniel Blaisdcll. 

Wm. F. Hauscom. James C. Ham. 

This regiment left New Hampshire in'September, 18G4, 
for Virginia, and served through the war. 

NAVY. 

Charles Hill of Barnstead served in the United States 
Navy, and was one of the crew of the Kearsarge. He par- 
ticipated in that fitmous onset which destroyed and sunk 
the Alabama. 

SURGEONS. 

During the Rebellion Barnstead furnished surgeons as 
follows: John Wheeler, M.D., Acting Assistant Surgeon, 
U. S. A. ; Thomas H. Wheeler, do., Laban M. Sanders, do. 

Miss Harriet P. Dame served against the rebellion. 
She was the daughter of James C. Dame of Barnstead, 
went to the seat of war in June, 18G1, and continued there 



1872 THE REBELLION. 223 

a friend to the sick and wounded, advising and assisting 
them as a nurse up to its final end. A part of the time 
she acted as an agent in the receipt and distribution of 
supplies to the sick and wounded soldiers of New Hamp- 
shire. 

This town, in the year of the rebellion, sent to the war 
one hundred and seventy enlisted men, a fraction more 
than one to every ten of its inhabitants. 

In view of the patriotism, endurance, and self-sacrifice, 
evinced by such a record, we are vividly reminded of the 
noble hero referred to in Pope's Homer : 

'' The gallant man, though slain in fight he be, 
Yet leaves his country safe, his nation free. 
Entails a debt on all the grateful state. 
His own brave friends shall glory in his fate; 
His wife live honored, and all his race succeed, 
And late posterity enjoy the deed." 



MARCH OF IMPROVEMENT. 



From the landing of the pilgrims to within the last 
fifty years there had been but little change in the order of 
things generally, except Avhat the revolution had inaugu- 
rated. There had been but few inventions and but few 
improvements. "Old Time" had jogged on as ever before ; 
taxes were low, the country was becoming populous, peace 
and prosperity abounded, and there appeared to be no in- 
clination to diverge from the beaten track of the ancient 
fathers. Parents and children alike were taught to revere 



224 HISTORY OF BARXSTEAI). 1872 

their Maker, their Bible, and their minister, and to Iveep 
the Sa1)bath holy. Noah Webster's Spelling-book and a 
copy of the New Testament were the primitive books, and 
all that were deemed necessary for the scholar in which to 
liecome a good reader. 

The old-fashioned school-house, with its large open fire- 
place, was then thought to be sufficiently commodious for 
the youths of that day. The simple friction match, now 
everywhere used, was then unknown. If the fire went out 
at night, it must be procured at the nearest neighbor's, or 
obtained from the steel-and fiint Ijy casting a spark upon 
l)urned tinder, or by flashing fire from the old gun into tow 
or flax suspended above it, and thus to catch and kindle 
it. There were no stoves, nothing but the huge fire-place, 
in which to place a large back-log and liack-stick with a 
fore-stick resting on iron dogs, and the smaller combus- 
tibles filled in between them. The cooking was done on 
the fire, the potatoes sometimes being, roasted in its em- 
bers. The baking was in the great brick oven, though 
occasionally it was done in the old " Dutch-oven " over the 
fire or in pewter plates in front of it. 

The farmer's wood was green, usually unhoused, lying- 
in piles about the doorwaj^ Green wood, though slow to 
kindle, was preferred to the dry, as it made the hotter fire. 
At the fireside on a winter's evening groups of children, 
and often the more aged neighbors, would gather, and en- 
joying the fire "fair blazing," would amuse themselves 
with stories and riddles, or otherwise discourse upon the 
A'aried incidents of the day. 

Among the middle-aged conversation would sometimes 
take direction to their business affairs, their nice houses 
and fat oxen, and now and then to the telling of a bear 



1872 MARCH OF IMPROVEMENT. 225 

story, 01" perhaps some heroic or tragical event of the revo- 
lution. Lights for the evenings of that period were usually 
the old tallow candle, generally home-made, manufactured 
by the mother of the family, by dipping the wicks into 
warm tallow, and repeating the process until the candle 
was of sufficient size for use. No one at that time knew 
of a better light. The first oil-lamp used was of tin, hold- 
ing a pint. It had a nozzle like a teapot, from which the 
wick extended. A pair of smiffers sometimes attended 
these lights, but they were somewhat rare. 

Since then more than a half a century has elapsed, the 
old spelling book and the capacious fire-place are no more ; 
the use of the white flint stone from the field and the tin- 
der, the flint-lock to the gun, the Dutch-oven, the pewter 
plates, the tallow candle and the oil lamp, are all hence- 
forth to be reckoned among the things that were. The 
whirl of the great wheel at the hand of the fair maiden 
that whistled music like the north \find, and that old linen 
wheel which operated as playing second fiddle to it, are 
known only to the experience of old age, consigned as they 
have been to the flames, or to take places in the attics 
of the old farm-houses. No more is the homespun fulled- 
cloth used in clothing the family, nor in these days is the 
linen or tow cloth manufactured by the busy house-wife. 
How great the change ! 

The mammoth mills of modern erection have diverted 
the industry of the people. The livelihood and economy of 
the happy homes of former days, by the creation of man- 
ufacturing towns and by recent inventions, have taken a 
diflerent channel. The farmer's sons and daughters, lured 
by the new order of things, have left him to take up their 
abodes in cities and villages, tending to his discourage- 



226 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 3872 

ment, yet his progress is facilitated by new and improved 
implements of the workshop and of husbandry, obtained 
through the artful inventions of the present day. By the 
invention of the " cotton gin," the power loom, the loco- 
motive, the telegraph, &e., and by the spirit of enterprise 
that followed the introduction of them, a new and more 
progressive life has been inaugurated and is still pro- 
gressing. 

" Anon advance the riper years of art, 
In which inventions take decisive part, 
Wlience generous genius prosecutes the plan, 
To overcome the drudgery of man ; 
Malces lifeless things, impelled at his control, 
To do the duty of a living soul. 
Hence cotton gins and spinning-jennies fine. 
Out-run the wooden wheels of olden time. 
Hence power of steam, applied on sea or land. 
Expelling labor with a heavy hand. 
Work startling wonders through mechanic skill, 
To move the car, the steamboat, or the mill." 

[(See the Merrimac, by Ti. B. Carerbj,p. 01, 62.] 

Indeed how strangely different is our mode of travelling 
from that of the early times. Instead of the saddle and 
the pillion which were first in use, and of the old wagon, 
chaise, gig, and stage coach, which came into use at a 
later period, the railroad car runs in every direction, 
affording vast fjxcilities for travel and transportation 
throughout the land. To make way for the locomotive, 
the valleys have been sought, the rivers have been spanned, 
and the hills have been made low and level. 

Perhaps not less strangely different is our present art 
in painting or taking pictures. Some of us at this day 
can well remember the old ••' Profile Taker" as he passed, 
from house to house with his neat little box which con- 
tained his picture frames, his black paper, &c., and his 



A872 MARCH OF IMPROVEMENT. 227 

scissors, and with which to take a side view of the face ; 
and all at the small price of one shilling and sixpence. 
Yet even that art then was rare, so that nearly all of the 
first settlers of Barnstead, when they left the world, left 
to their descendants nothing in the shape of a likeness. 
But now, through the channel of inventions, daguerreotype 
and photograph pictures are common to this people as they 
are to the whole earth. Quite as strange, also, has been 
the change in the making of garments, shoes, and other 
articles, facilitated as all this kind of work has been through 
modern inventions. The number and extent of the New 
England manufactnrers, increased in power and facilitated 
as the}^ are in the vast productions of their enterprises by 
numerous successive modern inventions, tend, at all times, 
to excite wonder and admiration. 

The process of manufacturing under modern improve- 
ments has been briefly described as follows : 



The wheels, 'within the wheel,' with one consent 
Fly round and round, each on its duty sent; 
Ten thousand spindles in their places spin. 
Ten thousand spools fast wind their fibres in, 
Ten thousand shuttles shoot across the web. 
Fed by the mules, slow back and forward led : 
Fast roll the fabrics from the rolling beam. 
Complete in beauty, true in thread and seam. 
The sheeting white, the listed broadcloths fine, 
Neat satinet, and carpets superfine. 
The gaudy prints and blankets plainer made, 
For realms remote, for home or foreign trade; 
Workshops with throngs the vills environ, 
Magic in power o'er wood, o'er steel and iron ; 
Alive in thought, and helping one another. 
Onward in handy art advancing further. 
Embracing all the works that man can do. 
Through labor fruitful and inventions new." 

[From R. B, Caverhfs Merrimac, p, 63.] 



228 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 



*' Hither let luxury lead her loose-robed train, 
Here flutter pride ou purple painted wings, 
And from the moral prospect learn how vain 
The wish that sighs for sublunary things." 

It was nearly a century after the first settlements before 
an}^ spot of land was obtained here and designated as a 
public burying ground. Strange as it may appear, up to 
that period there seemed but little concern in the minds of 
our inhabitants upon this subject. While other towns not 
very far distant were fencing their grave-yards, were con- 
secrating them, were strewing them with flowers at each 
return of the spring season, and every year were improv- 
ing their repositories with shade trees to invite the pilgrim 
and the sweet songster, how strange it now seems that 
ours had been so long, so generally delayed. 

Up to the year 1850 there had beeu no public burying 
ground in Barnstead, its first settlers and their immediate 
descendants many of them having beeu left to slumber 
even to the fourth generation in its fields, pastures, lanes, 
gardens, orchards, and other isolated places, where the 
cruel plow in the course of time may or may not invade 
them. Some are honored with a rude unlettered stone. 
Some have none, and though there are many who have re- 
spectable monuments with historic inscriptions, still there 
are scores whose resting places are lost, never again to be 
watered by aftection's tears, and never more to be traced. 

Such a seeming neglect, however, may well be attributed 
to causes common to a new country, particularly to the 
hardness of the times, wherein from necessity often times 
the future had to be burdened with the duties of the pres- 



1872 BURIAL OF THE DEAD. 229 

eut. At that time a fashion seemed to prevail whereby 
each farmer was led to believe that some corner in his own 
field was, of all others, the most appropriate place for his 
venerated dead. 

Of late it has been seen that there is no duty more 
imperative, and in fact more praise-wortliy, than to cherish 
with becoming decency the memories of those who have 
been with us and who have left us. It is becoming to a 
generous people to give their dead a place in the highlands, 
or in the shady dell, wliere the cypress and the maple shall 
cast their shadows, and where the soft sound of the pine 
tree and the warblings of the wild bird shall be borne on 
the breeze both at morn and eve ; there let the lily spring 
up in its beauty, and let tiie wild-rose bloom there in its fra- 
grance forever. To such a repository tlie pilgrim shall 
come, and here shall we learn the way that '•'• makes glad 
the city of our God." Here, also, the human heart taking 
inspiration from the God of nature, shall learn wisdom ; 
and while it seeks to contemplate the frailties of this life, 
it shall be led to anticipate with serene delight the tran- 
scendant glories of that which is to come. 

To cherish an affection for departed worth, to place 
over the dust of dear ones a sprig of acacia, or to adorn 
the grave with a forget-me-not, ever serves to strengthen 
the tie between the li^•ing and the dead. 'Tis thus the 
kind mother, the dutiful wife, and the affectionate child, 
though dead, are called back to commune with us in the 
chambers of love and in beautiful visions. 

Old time, as we have seen, has levelled the turf upon 
the graves of many of the old fathers, yet they rest in peace. 

" The breezy call of incense-breathing Morn, 

The swallow's twitt'riug from the straw -built shed, 
The cock's shrill clarion, or the echoing horn, 
No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed. 



230 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

'■ For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn, 
Or busy house-wife ply her evening care, 
No children run to lisp their sire's return, 
Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share." 

[Gray's E2egy.] 

At the Parade there was a private burial lot, owned 
fli'st by John Bunker and afterwards bj^ his son Eli, next 
by his son Abraham, which still exists in the right of the 
fifth generation. This ground, as if by common consent 
of its proprietors, has from time to time been used for 
burials by a few families for nearly a hundred years. 
There is now and then a marble slab in it. Being private 
property, however, it is ever exposed to the liability of 
being invaded, neglected, discontinued or desecrated. 
Improvements are progressing. Since 1850 four public 
cemeteries have been established, one at the Centre, one 
at North Barnstead, one at Clarktown, and one at the 
Parade. 

In that j'^ear a large circle of ladies obtained the means 
and established the cemetery situated on Lord's Hill, about 
fifty rods east of the Parade Church, fenced it, divided it 
into lots, ornamented it with shade trees, and left it alone 
to await and receive the advancing generations. 

All honor to the ladies of that hour ! long life to those 
of them who still live ! and peace, sweet peace, to the 
ashes of those who sleep ! 

Quite a number of the dead from the old grounds have 
already been taken to the new, where many of the lots 
have been purchased and ornamented as becomes a gener- 
ous, pious people. 

Soft is the peace of saints, in peace they lie ; 
They rest in silence, but they never die I" 



APPENDIX. 



BIOGRAPHY. 



Jeremiah Peabody Jkwett, who collected the material 
and started this history, had been for many years a mem- 
ber of the New England Genealogical Society. A brief 
account of his father's family will be found on page 152. 
They descended from Joseph Jewett, one of the first set- 
tlers of Rowle}', Mass. The father, as we have seen, was 
one of the first settlers of Barnstead, and died there in 1836. 
His mother. Temperance (Dodge) Jewett, was a sister to 
Judith Dodge, the mother of George Peabody, well-known 
to the world as a banker in London. The mother is still 
living at the age of a hundred years and upwards. 

Dr. Jewett obtainec J his common school education at his 
native village, and in 182G-7 attended PhiUips P^xeter 
Academ3^ His principal instructor there was John Adams. 
Afterwards he read medicine with his father. Then, for a 
year or two, he was the medical student of Dr. J. Spoffbrd, 
of Groveland, and in the years 1831-2 he was a student 
in the medical department of Dartmouth College, under 



232 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

the instruction of Messrs. Muzzey and Oliver. He received 
his diploma there, and in March, 1833, made Lowell his 
place of residence and practice. He was a Fellow of the 
Massachusetts Medical Society, and was for a considerable 
time President of the Medical Society of " The Middlesex 
District." For many years he was special coroner in the 
citj'' of Lowell, sometimes represented it in the Massachu- 
setts legislature, and sometimes in the branches of its own 
city government. 

Mrs. Jewett was Miss Harriett E. Loomis, of Windsor, 
Connecticut. Their sons and daughters now living are 
Emma L., Henrietta A., Thomas P., Joseph D., and Alice 
A., the youngest at the age of five years. 

The Doctor's health began to decline in the autumn of 
1868. He suffered of dropsy, of which he died June 23, 
1870. His funeral was attended on the 27th by a large 
concourse of people. And then b}' the " old residents " of 
his adopted town he was borne away to the banks of the 
" old Concord," and to a peaceful rest in the shades of the 
Lowell Cemetery. 

Brisk blow, ye bleak winds, bring a song, 

Celestial vespers, sweet and clear, 
Wave wide ye bending woods along, 

In love to lay your garlands here I 

And you, ye wild birds, often sad, 

In little songs if not in tears. 
Forget ye not my honored dead, 

As wane away the eternal j'ears. 

Let lilies fragrant fill the ground. 
Lovely for age shall live the sod I 
For here, indeed, a friend is found, 
A man, the noblest work of God. 
Jitne 27, 1870. R. B. C. 



1872 OF ITS DEAD. 233 

t 

NECROLOGY. 



Through the generous aid of a lady, Mrs. M. H. W., 
we have ol)tained quite an elaborate account of the dead 
of Barnstcad. It covers nearly the whole period of the 
existence of the town, and details to a certain extent the 
out-goings of its young men and maidens as well as of 
its old men and matrons ; and while it bears upon its pages 
the names both of citizens and soldiers, it does not lose 
sight of its wizards and witches. 

The ashes of " Old Peggy " , are still found to be 

reposing upon the Drew farm, and old " Aunt Nabby " 

, as of yore, sleeps silently beneath a pine tree near 

the Suncook bridge. Though " witches they were," yet 
in our faith they at this hour occup}^ a place as high at 
the throne of Heaven as the kings and queens of their 
time. 

It is a significant caution to the pride of earth, that at 
the grave, all are intended to be made equal. 

And this is all !— vain wealth may fry 
To rear her monuments on high. 

In gorgeous grandeur, clever; 
But where the balmy woodlands sigli, 
And the dead are equal far and nigh, 

Best— rest is sweeter, never ! 

The said Peggy in her day, as tradition tells us, was 
greatly troublesome to her neighbor, that " she prevented 
his cow, that would not give good milk ;" that "she forbade 
the cream, and it refused to turn to butter," and the like. 
Tradition also informs us " that at the same moment when 



234 



HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 



1872 



our poor old Nabby was c<)nsignecl to the earth, a spacious 
flock of crows flew rapidly over her, and that a tempestu- 
ous gale of wind followed them." 

At this day it is pleasant to know and feel that the 
credulous years that followed New England witch-craft in 
its terrible dream, are forever at an end. 

Prior to 1803 Barnstead had no record of interments. 
After this date, up to 18G0, in an account kept by Parson 
George, the number given is 1320. Since then, by a 
record as kept by Rev. William O. Carr, 282 deaths have 
been added to the list, which in the whole, as taken, 
numbers 1G02. 

In the following table we are mostly confined to those 
whose ages and dates of death are giveu : 



Date. 




Age. 


Date. 




Age. 


1777 


Samuel Clark, 


— 


1811 


William Nutter, 


55 


1784 


Peter Edgerly, 


21 




Anna, his widow. 




1795 


Samuel Avery, 


76 




in 1813, 


53 


1796 


John Pendergast, 


15 




Hetty Pickering, 






Jonathan Buuker, 


67 




wife of Stephen, 


71 




Sarah, his widow. 






Moses Dennett, 


57 




in 1825, 


96 




Betsey, his widow, 




1797 


Stephen Pendergast 


68 




in 1852, 


90 




Betsey, his widow, 




1812 


Samuel Nelson, jr.. 


24 




in 1836, 


99 


1814 


David Rand, 


70 




John Tasker, 






Thomas Edgerly, 


85 


1798 


Dorothy Edgerly, 






Datharuah,his wife. 






wife of Samuel, 


26 




in 1808, 


78 


1799 


John Clarlv, 


— 




David Drew, 


30 




Dr. Joseph Adams, 


78 


1814 


Lieut. James Brown 


, 50 


1804 


David Jacobs, 


48 




Patience, his widow. 






Molly, his widow. 






in 1828, 


52 




in 1848, 


92 


1815 


Mrs. Bunker, mother 




1805 


James G. Kaime, 


40 




of Joseph, 


106 




Hannah, his wife. 




1817 


Charles Hodgdon, 


75 




in 1795, 


29 




Hannah, his wife, 




1810 


Moses Eand, 


70 




in 1790, 


57 


1811 


Thomas Emerson, 


37 




Abigail, his widow. 






Henry Munsey, 


75 




in 1830, 


83 




Samuel Nelson, 


73 




Mrs. Joseph Bunker 


107 



IAT2 


NECROLOGY. 


Dato. 


Age. 


Date. 


1817 


Nathaniel Tasker, 


63 


1828 




Sally, his widow, 1837 


56 




1819 


Thomas Salter, 


— 






Mrs. Salter, his wife, 


— 


1829 




Samuel Oilman, 


89 






Joseph Hawkins, 


83 






Daniel Hall, 


17 






Solomon Hall, 


15 




1820 


Capt. Ebenezer Ad- 








ams, 


35 




1822 


James Locke, 
Abigail, his widow. 


38 






in Lsr»9, 


82 


1830 




Benjamin Emerson, 


77 




1823 


Aaron Cheslej% 


69 






Ruth, his wife, 1818, 


63 






Sarah Jacobs, wife 








of Isaac, 


21 


1831 


1824 


Susan Hall, wife of 








Benjamin R. 


21 






Jonathan Roberts, 


55 




1825 


John Cheslej', 


83 


1832 




John Kenistou, 


21 






Aaron Chesle.v. 


40 






Stephen Pickering, 


85 






Jonathan Emerson, 


76 






Sarah, his wife, 1810 


68 






Enoch Clark, 


57 






Susannah, his wife, 








in ISU, 


39 






Samuel Pitman, 


89 






Sarah, his widow. 


88 




1826 


Jonathan Clark, jr.. 


29 






Samuel Clark, 


32 






Thomas Bunker, 


95 






Deborah, his wife, 








in 1824, 


91 


1833 




Jonathan Cheslev, 


90 






Mark Walker, 


21 






Sarah Bunker, 


96 




1827 


John B. Parshley, 


84 






Sarah, his wife, 1823 


, 77 






John Tuttle. 


75 






Dolly, his wife, 1825, 


73 






Stephen Pendergast, 


57 






Mrs.EzekielEastman,91 






• Solomon Muusey, 


82 






Mrs. M., his wife, 


80 





235 



Age. 
29 
23 
27 
62 



Thomas Penny, 
Noah Pitman, 
Dr. Wm. Walker, 
Samuel Garland, 
Abigail, his widow, 

in 1839, 74 

Temperance Nutter, 70 

Joseph Place, 75 
Abigail Goodwin, 

wife of David. 32 
Esther Nutter, wife 

of Hatevil, 77 

Capt. John Daniels, 35 
Mercy Nutter, wife 

of Benjamin, 81 

Joseph Bunker, 47 

Olive, his wife, 1830, 46 
Eleanor Colebath, 

wife of Dependence, 81 

Samuel Jacobs, 43 

WiDiam Muncy, 86 

El)enezer Adams, 79 

Timothy Muncy, 83 

Mary, liis wife^ 1830, 80 

Joseph Bunker, 38 

James Locke, 80 
Mary, his widow, in 

1844, 86 
Charles J. Hodgdon, 26 
Timothy Muusey, 83 
Mary, liis wife, 1830, 80 
~Wm. Walker, 73 
Elizabeth, his wid- 
ow, in 1843, 82 
Betsey Towle, 68 
Benjamin Nutter, 88 
Peletiah Daniels, 63 
Mrs. Anna Lyford, 75 
John Jacobs, 55 
Mercv Jacobs, wife 

of b. Wiggins, 40 

Joseph Tasker, 77 
Sallv. his widow, in 

1834, 78 

Daniel Jacobs, 74 
Margaret, his wife, 

in"l819, 57 

Capt. George Chesley, 51 



236 



HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 



187 



Date. 
1833 



1834 



1835 



183G 



1837 



40 
65 

102 

95 
41 

42 
43 

79 
70 

70 



85 



85 
82 



1838 



Age. 
Nancy Jenkins, ^Yife 

of Joseph, 
John Dnclley, 
John ritniaii, 
Susanna, his widow, 

in 1835, 
Chaiies G. Sinclair, 
Joanna Kaiine, Avife 

of John, 
Adonijah Keniston, 
Olive, Ills widow, in 

1872, 
Theodore Willey, 
Abigail Bicldord, 

wife of Moses, 
Charles Hodgdon, jr. (Jl 
Temperance, his 

widow, in 1842, 
Josiah Snell, 
Wm. Munsey, 
Anna Dockham, 
Dr. Jeremiah Jewett, 79 
Ira Tasker, 37 

Miss Betsey Header, 7G 
John Davis, 50 

Lyman Hodgdon, 23 

George Hop Nutter, 35 
Samuel Kand, (JO 

Marv, his widow, in 

1852, 78 

Eeubeu Sanl)orn, C3 

Dea. Ezelviel Edgerly, 72 
Mary Hatch, wife of 

Hosca, 51 

Aaron Merrill, 02 

Abigail, his widow, 

in 1841, 55 

Joseph Fay, 03 

Olive, his widow, in 

1854, 
Lois Hoitt, wife of 

Col. James, 
John Beri-y, 
Hannah, his widow, 

in 18G4, 
Wm. Scriggius, 72 

Sally, his wife, in 

1811, 41 



87 



39 
59 

88 



Date. Age- 

1838 Wm. Garland, 42 
Lois Brown, wife of 

Robert, 69 

Edward Avery, 58 
Dependence Colebath,90 

1839 Simon Dow, 77 
Abigail, his wife, in 

1820, 55 
Ruth, his second 

wife, in 1829, 59 

John Judkins, 60 
Abigail, his widow, 

in 1^48, 75 

Samuel Edgerly, 71 
Betsey, liis widow, 

in 1847, 87 

MollyMuncy, 89 

Abigail rickering, 72 

1840 Mrs^ Noah Robinson, 65 
Timothy Bunker, 41 
Margaret, his wid- 
ow, in 1804, 06 

Major John Nutter, 83 
Betty, his wife, in 

1817, 02 
Betsey Hodgdon, 

wife of Lieut. 

Richard Sinclair, 78 

Dennis Pendergast, 76 
Hannah, his wife, in 

1840, 69 

Josiah Tebbetts, 56 
Eunice, his widow, 

in 1867, 82 

Ephraini Tebbetts, 86 

Jacolj B. Locke, 40 

1841 Jonathan Durgin, 69 
Susan, his Avidow, 

in 1855, 82 

Lydia Bachelder, 88 

Solomon Emerson, 24 

John Bunker, 80 
Polly, his widow, in 

1844. 84 
Paul Edgerly, 82 

1842 Robert Tebbets, Esq., 83 
his widow, ju 

1845, . 88 



1872 



NECROLOGY. 



237 



Date. Age. 

1842 James Harden, 89 
Mi's. Aaron Leathers, 83 
Samuel Ayers, 80 
Eli IJunkeV, 82 
Anna, his wife, 79 
Oilman Louijee, 27 
Capt. Daniel Bunker, G9 
Lovey, his witlow, 

in ISGO, 83 

John Clark, 76 

John Hanscom, 57 
Hannah, hiswido-v, 

in 1S.32, G8 
John Ilodgdon, 23 
David Drew, 84 
Martha W., his wid- 
ow, in 1855, 95 
Hannah Drew, wife 

of James, 43 

Paul Emerson, 21 

Peletiali Penny, ,s5 

Mary, his wife, in 

1840, 81 

1843 Dea. Ebenr. Nutter, 87 
Temperance, his 

wife, in 1829, 70 

Anthony Nutter, 79 
Annie, his widow, 

in 1844, 8G 

Dollie Drew, 51 

Olive Stevens, GO 

Capt. Seth Walker, 28 

Josiah Shackford, 77 
Lydia, his widow, 

in 1859, 86 

Samuel Walker, 43 
Euth, his widow, in 

1852, 49 

1844 Hannah Rand, sec- 

ond wife of Moses, 80 

Joseph Hall, 76 
Mary, his widow, in 

1845, 71 
Mary Langley, wife 

of Josepii, 79 

Wm. Walker, jr., 58 
Betsey, his widow, 

in 1851, 64 



Date. Age, 

1844 Valentine Chapman, 8G 
Patience, his wid- 
ow, in 1845, 70 

Abigail Towle, wife 

of Roby, 33 
Prudence Emerson, 

wife of Eliphalet, 53 

Levi Davis, 87 

Joseph P. Nutter, ir. 28 

Polly L. Pickering, 

wife of Joseph, 57 

1845 Dr. Noah J. T. George, 50 
Daniel Clark, 45 
Nancy, his wife, in 

1837, 40 

Eben Pitman, 58 
Abigail, his widow, 

in 1856, 61 
John Matt. Nutter, 26 
Samuel Rollins, 76 
De))orah, his wid- 
ow, in 1857, 52 
John Hill, 59 
Sallv, his widows in 

1857, 62 

Daniel Clark, 44 

1846 Cyrus F. Oarland, 29 
Emily, his Avidow, 

in 1850, 27 

John K. Kaime, 30 

John Bodge. 81 
Mary, his widow, in 

1851, 9o 

Charles Poster, 48 
Aljigail, his widow, 

in 1868, 7X 

Richard Libby, 2,s 

1847 Alljert E. Hodgdon, 25 
Rev. Robert Allen, 55 
Abigail Rollins, wife 

of Samuel, 58 

Samuel Chesley, 39 

John Aikiu, 93 
Hannah, his wife, in 

1843, 84 

Mrs. Sarah Durgiu, 78 

John Nutter, 42 

Comfort Chesley, 86 



238 



HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 



1872 



Date. Age. 

1848 Moses Bunker, '35 
Margaret Wallace, 

wife of Capt. Wm. 45 

Joanna Snell, GS 

Timothy Muncy, 24 

Josepli Drew, 4C> 
Abigail Hall, his 

widow, in 1872. 02 

Eichard Collins, 79 
Patience, his wife, 

in 1845, 70 

James Langley, 47 
Susan, Ills widow, 

in 18G(), 74 
Sally Tuttle, wife of 

Thomas, 70 

Samuel Eaton, 71 

Joseph Norris, 80 
Hannah, his widow, 

in 1852, 87 

Phineas Young, 72 
Dolly, his widow, in 

18(52, 80 

1849 Beuj. Hodgdon, Esq., 82 
Polly, Ills widow, in 

1858, 82 

Nath. Nutter, 91 
Dorothy, his widow, 

in 1S55, 89 

Sampson Babb, 80 

Wiuthrop Ayers, 80 
Euth, his widow, in 

1855, 91 

Daniel Pickering, 75 
Lois Davis, wife of 

Josiah, 79 
Miss Sally Pickering, 73 

1850 Wm. J. Stiles, 23 
John Brown, 49 
Solomon Munsey, jr. 72 

1851 Permelia Kaime, 

second wife of John, 49 

Joseph E. Nutter, 44 

Benjamin Winkley, 79 
Elizabeth, his Avife, 

in 1841, GO 
Betsey, his widow, 

in 1803, 85 



Date. Age. 

1851 Mary IIodgdon,Avife 

of'Wm.^A., 24 

John Bickford, 83 

Andrew Bunker, 67 
Eel)eeca.his widow, 

in 1853, 07 

Joseph Tuttle, 77 
Phebe, his wife, in 

1848, 07 
Wm. B. Wentworth, 50 
Anna, his widow, 

in 1S07, 72 

John Holmes, 62 

Nancy Peudergast, 84 

Joseph S. Ayers, 49 

Andrew Pickering, 70 

1852 Samuel B. Proctor, 30 
James B. Peavy, 74 
Hannah, his widow, 

in 1S55, 71 

Levi ("hase, 82 
Lvdia, his wife, in 

1845, 71 

Joshua Pickering, 35 

Solomon Hall, 83 
Lydia, his wife, in 

1845, 73 
Lois Wel)ster. wife 

of Nathaniel, 09 
Marv Ann Hall, wife 

of Alfred, 37 

Jacob Saunders, 02 

Daniel W. Thurston, 20 
Abigail Langley, 

wife of Henry, 09 

Mrs. Mary Welch, 97 
Eunice Lyford, wife 

of Eev. Frank H., 20 
Mrs. Jeremiah Davis, 86 
Widow Paul Edgerly, 87 

Jacob Pickering, 87 

1853 Nathaniel Adams, 

sou of Dr. Joseph, 82 

Mrs. Betsev. Newell, 89 

Levi Clark, jr., 44 

Jacob Willey. 85 
Sallv, his widow, in 

1855, 89 



1872 NECROLOGY. 


Date. Age. 


Date, 


1853 "Wni. Grover, M.D., 


50 


1855 


Ebeu IVIunsey, 


80 




Charles Hodgdon. jr. 


89 




Betsey, his wife, in 






1825, 


42 




Mary Muncy, 


70 




Chester H. Nutter, 


26 




(inCal), 


2G 




1854 Elizabeth Roberts, 


87 




Mary A. Dauiels, 


28 




Jonathan Clark, 


90 


1856 


Temperance, his 






wife, in 182(], 


56 




Mrs. Sally Nutter, 


76 




Benjamin Chesley, 


64 




Col." John Tuttle, 


70 




Sally, his wife, in 






1825, 


39 




Jonathan Keniston, 


83 




Sally, his widow, in 






18G1, 


82 




Rev. Jacob Davis, 


68 




Louise, his wife, in 






1839, 


48 




Samuel York, 


82 




Betsey, his wife, in 






18-15, 


72 




Abigail M. Ayers, 


68 




Mary Chesley, wife 






of Henry, 


56 


1857 


Jeremiah Davis, 


91 




John Tebbetts, 


89 




Dorothy, his wife. 






in 1832, 


68 




1855 David F. Eaton, 


49 




Eleanor, his wife. 






in 1827, 


32 




Sam'l Webster, Esq. 


, 62 




Eliphalet Nutter, 


70 




Lovev, his widow, 






in 'lsGI, 


75 




Jethro Nutter, 


91 




Mary, his widow, in 






18G0, 


81 


1858 


Jeremiah Clark, 


85 




Sally, his widow, in 






1857, 


78 




Jacob Canney, 


82 





239 

Age. 

Thomas Snell, 82 

Thomas Emerson, 40 

Wm. Walker, M, D., 27 

Simeon Lougee, 88 
Mai-y, his Avife, in 

1811, 38 
Mary E., his second 

Avife, in 1850, 72 
Lois Barbour, 80 
Francis P^lliott, — 
Isaac Willey, ' 79 
John Peavey, Esq., 8o 
Deborah, his wid- 
ow, in 1865, 87 
Thomas Proctor, 77 
Martha, his wife, in 

1825, 41 
Comfort, his second 

wife, in 1847, 66 

John Pitman, 86 
Shuah, his wile, in 

1850, 79 

Perkins Ayers, 72 
Mary Morgan, wife 

of Reuben, 71 

Jonathan Moore, 58 

Charlotte, his wife, 54 

Nathaniel Pickering, G3 

Polly his wife, 44 
Betsev Webster, 

wife of Robert, 36 
Lillis Runnels, wife 

of Israel, G2 

Leonard Clark, 28 

Henry Nutter, 75 
Sarah, his wife, in 

1853, 73 

Jenny Muusey, 82 

It^iaac Kenney, 38 

Wm. Berry, 57 
Tamson, his widow, 

in 1872, 69 

Stephen Hussey, 79 

Wm. A. Hoitt, 27 

Charles F. Bunker, 29 

Ebenezer Munsey, 80 
Mary, his wife, in 

1858, 69 



240 



HISTORY OF BARN STEAD. 



1872 



Date. Age. 

1858 Josiah Pitman, 83 
Susan, liis wife, iu 

1858, 82 

Sarali Pcndergast, 90 

LoiiUK'l Bimker, 85 
Sallv, his wife, in 

1857. 82 
Eliza Webster, wife 

of Caleb, 43 

1859 Nath. Blaisdell, G2 
Abigail Hall, wife of 

of Eben, 54 

Rev. Enos George, 78 
Soi)hia, his wife, in 

1858, 70 
Eliphalet Berry, 61 
Solomon Clark, 7G 
Sarah, his widow, 

in 18G8, 75 

John Sanliorn, 82 
Polly G. Pierce, 

wife of Ilarve}', 53 

John Thurston, GG 
Hannah, his widow, 

in IS{;8, 75 
Lucy Drew, second 

wife of James. GO 

Wm. H. Elliott, 52 

Moses Bicklord. 93 

KsiiO Thomas P. Hodgdon, GO 

Abi'am Bunker, 75 
Polly, his widow, in 

1870, 81 
Jonathan Pitman, 44 
Joseph Pendergast, 86 
Nancy Bickford, 

wife of John, 84 

18G1 Gen. Timothy Dow, 64 
Marv, his widow, in 

1871, 76 
George Nutter. 68 
Wni. Shaw, 71 
Nancy, his wife, in 

1872, 80 
John Colebath, 95 
Lettice, his wife, in 

1852, ' 85 

John Garland, 56 



Date. 
1861 



1862 



1862 
1863 



1864 



Age. 

Mary E. Pierce, 35 

John M. Nutter, 62 

Jonathan Young, 62 

Moses Hodgdon, 83 

Charles AV.'"Dow, 22 

Polly Nutter, 81 

Leyi Clark. 89 
Betsey, his wife, in 

1857, 78 

Thomas Pendergast, 78 
Mary Nelson, his 

widow, in 1865, 86 

Silas Tuttle, 78 

Moses Chesley, 86 

Mrs. Drew, 90 

Rev. Dayid Garland, 71 
Abiaail. his wife, 

in^l850, 58 
Thomas J. Pierce, 

(soldier), 24 

Daniel Drew, 67 
Joseph Pendergast, 

(soldier), 37 
Lydia, his wife, in 

1850, 20 
George F. Muusey, 24 
Wm. H. Berrj-, (sol- 
dier), 24 
Horace T. Munsey, 27 
Alice Foss, wife of 

Jonathan. 72 
George xiikin, (sol- 
dier), 22 
Charles Hodgdon, jr. 64 
Samuel York, jr. 65 
Mrs. Moses Hodgdon, 91 
Joseph A. Walker, 63 
Abigail; his wife, in 

1856, 58 

Stephen Pendergast, 65 
Ann, his wife, in 1855, 61 
Pliebe, his Ayidow, 

in 1869, 64 
Corp. Joseph Hill, 
(a soldier wound- 
ed at ColdHarljor),29 
Lois Garland, wife 

of Samuel, 64 



1872 




NECROLOGY 


Date 




Ag.-. 


Diite. 


1864 


Aaron Drew, 
Elizn))c'th, Ins wife, 


71 


1867 




iu 1856. 


68 






Josepli Hall, 


18 






Lorenzo Hall, 


:>('< 






Sarali Dow, wife ol 








Jacol), 


di) 






Timothy Emerson 








Hodiidou, 


56 






Harried Shackfoid, 








wife of Soth, 


51 






Joseph rickering. 


77 






Mary Marshall, wife 








of Andrew. 


68 






E. Clarke Drew. 


45 






xVaron Chesley, 


36 




1SC5 


Dea. Solomon Pen- 








derga,st, 


84 






Rebecea, his wife. 








in 185C>, 


86 






Samuel Caswell 


107 






Benjamin Hoitt, 


71 






Meliital)le. his wife. 








in lsy3. 


m 


1868 




Judith Clark, wife <if 








Wm. S.. 


60 






James M. Cilley, 


31 






Edward Pitman, 


57 




18(30 


Elijah Emerson, 
Nal)by, his wife, in 


88 






1S64, 


83 






Samuel B. Clark. 


53 






Annie DaA'is, first 








child l)orn in B.. 


96 






Esther Duryin. 


09 






Nancy Pendergast, 








wife of Dea. John, 


58 






Jeremiah Bodge, 


76 






Oliver Dennett. 


75 


1869 




Dodivah Kaime, 


62 






Samuel Caswell, 


103 






Mrs. C, his wife, in 








1866. 


93 






Samuel Rollins, 


73 




867 


Dr. Laljau M. Saun- 








ders, 


34 






Mary Allen, wife of 








Rev. Levi, 


62 





241 

Age. 

92 



Isaac Garland, 
Lydia, his wife, iu 

1865. 
John Clark, 
Henry C. Prime, 
John Place, 
Dorathy, his widow, 

in 1870, 
Thomas Trickey, 
Asa Clark. 
Hannah, his wife, iu 

1863. 
Mary Shackford, wife 

of Josiah, Jr., 
Capt. Wm. Nutter, 
Hauuah, his widow, 

in 1869, 
Nathaniel Blaisdell, 
Sophia, his wife, iu 

1867, 
Samuel Durgiu, 
Sally Hill, wife of 

Robert S.. 
Richard Garland, 
Solomon Emerson, 
Deborah, his wife, 

in 1843. 
Samuel Pickering, 
John J. Emerson, 
Nathan Collins, 
Ruth, his widow, iu 

1871. 
Phebe Collins, 
Col. John Aikin, 
Henry Munsej^, 
James Adams, 
Mrs. Samuel West, 
Mollv Greeuleaf, 
Wm. Nutter, 
Ensign John Nutter, 
Benjamin Trickey, 
John R. Jenkins, 
Azariah Holmes, 
Moses L. Grace, 
George A. Hall, 
William Nutter, 
Eleanor, his widow, 
in 1871, 81 



89 
48 
28 
75 

67 
37 
43 

44 

71 

78 

75 
27 

28 
70 



82 
75 
77 
70 
72 
70 
75 
71 
74 
83 
27 
58 
64 
30 
76 



242 



HISTORY OF I5ARNSTEAU. 



1872 



Date. 

laoo 



1870 



1871 



Age. 
Patience Parshlej', 

wife of Joshua, 77 
Sarah Clou.iih. "wife 

of Caleb, 77 

Martha Nutter, 
James Foss. 
Elizabeth Clark, wife 

of John D.. 
Charles II. Tuttle, 

died of great tu- 
mors, 
Samuel Ayers, 
Nathaniel Nutter, 
Dolly, his widow, in 

1872, 
Polly Emerson, wife 

of Moses, 
Anna Place, wife of 

Joseph, 
Aaron vSnell, 
Nathaniel G. Brown, 
Sally Foss, wife of 

Solomon, 
Eliphalet Locke, 
George D. Hill, 
Betty Drew, wife of 

Jacob, 
Dorothy Foss, wife 

of Simon, 



20 



50 
83 

89 

90 

c,s 

102 
G'.) 
45 

(15 
G<) 
53 

92 



Date. 
1871 



187 



Joseph Clark, 
Ira Varney, 
Mary, his wife, 
Caroline Webster, 

second wife of Ca- 

lel), 
David Wiggins Ja- 
cobs, 
Betsey, his wife, in 

1868. 
Mary Berry, wife of 

Samuel B., Esq.. 
Betsey Tutler, wife 

of John J. , 
Enoch Locke, 
Curtis C. Tuttle, 
Rev. John H. Nutter. 
Joseph Avers, 
Samuel Hill, 
Hannah Nutter, wife 

of Wm. P.. 
John E. Bunker. 



70 
70 



r,9 
79 
57 

83 
71 

9i; 

GO 
G5 

Mr. John Bradley, of Con- 
cord, N. H., lived and died 
here, leaving six children, one 
of whom is the wife of Charles 
Whitney, Esq., of Lowell, 
Mass. 



1872 TOWN CHARTER. 24^ 

(A.) 
CHARTER. 



GEORGE BY THE GRACE OF GOD, 

OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE AND IRELAND, 
KING. DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &C. 

To all people to wliom tJiese presents shall come: — 

Greeting : 

Know ye that we of our special knowledge and mere 
motion for the due encouragement of settling a new Plan- 
tation, by and with the advice and consent of our Council, 
have given, granted, and by these presents as far as 
in us lies, do give and grant, in equal shares, unto 
sundry of our beloved subjects, whose names are entered 
in a schedule hereunto annexed, that inhabit or shall in- 
habit within the said grants, within our Province of New 
Hampshire, all tliat tract of land within tlie following 
bounds, viz : To begin on the head of the town of Barring- 
ton, on the southwest side of the town of Coulrane, and 
running by the said town of Coulrane eight miles, and 
from the said town of Coulrane to run on the head of Bar- 
rington line southwest forty-two degrees six miles, and 
then northwest eight miles, and then on a straight line to 
the head of the first eight miles, and that the same be a 
Town, corporate by the name of Barnstead, to the persons 
aforesaid forever. To have and to hold the said land to 
the grantees and their heirs and assigns forever, and to 
such associates as they shall admit, upon the following 
conditions : 



244 HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

1st. That every proprietor buiM a dwelling-liouse 
within three years and settle a family llierein, ami break 
up three acres of ground, and plant and sow the same 
within three years, and pay his proportion of the town 
charges when and so often as occasion shall require tlie 
same. 

2nd. That a meeting-house be built for the public 
worship of God, within the term of f(jur years. 

3rd. That upon default of any particular proprietor in 
complying with the conditions of this cliarter, upon his 
part, such delinquent proprietor, shall forfeit his share to 
the other proprietors, which shall be disposed of according 
to the major vote of the said proprietors, at a legal meeting. 

4th. That a proprietor's share be reserved for a par- 
sonage, and another lor the lirst minister of the gospel that 
is there settled and ordained, and ahother proprietor's 
share for the benefit of a school in the town. 

Provided, nevertheless, that the peace witli the Indians 
continues for the space of three years. But if it should 
happen that a war with the Indians should commence be- 
fore the expiration of the aforesaid term of three years, 
then the said term of three years shall be allowed to the 
proprietors, after the expiration of the war, for the per- 
formance of the aforesaid conditions, rendering and paying 
therefor to us, our heirs and successors, or such officer or 
officers as shall be appointed to receive the same, the an- 
nual quit-rent or acknowledgement, of one pound of hemp, 
in the said town, on the 20th day of December, yearly, 
forever, (if demanded), reserving also unto us, our heirs 
and successors, all mast trees growing (jn said tract of 
land, according to the acts of Parliament in that case 
made and provided, and for the better order, rule and 



1872 CHARTER. 245 

government of the said town. AVe do by these presents 
for ourselves, our heirs and snecessors, grant unto the said 
men and inhabitants, or those that shall inhabit tlie said 
town, that yearly and every year, upon the last Tuesday 
in the month of March, forevei-, shall meet to elect and 
choose by the major part of tliose present, constables, 
selectmen, and other town otiicers, according to the laws 
and usages of our aforesaid Province, and for the calling 
and notifying the first town meeting, we do hereby ap- 
point John Downing, Jr., John Fabius and John Knight, 
to be the first selectmen, and they to continue in said 
respective offices as selectmen nntil the last Tuesday in 
the month of March, which shall be in the year of our Lord 
1728, and until other selectmen shall be chosen and ap- 
pointed in their stead, in such manner as is. in these 
presents expressed. 

In Witness whereof, we have caused tlie seal of 
[l. s.] our said Province of New Hampshire to be 

hereunto affixed. 

Witness, John Wentwouth, p]s(j., our Lieutenant- 
Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over our said 
Province, at our town of Portsmouth, in our said Province 
of New Hampshire, the twentieth day of Ma}', in tlie thir- 
teentli year of our reign, anno domhii, 1727. 

J. WENTWORTH. 

By order of his honor, the Lieut. C4overnor, with advice 

of Council. 

Richard Waldron, Clerk of Council. 

Recorded according to original, under the Province 
seal, this 28th day of March, 1761. 

Theodore Atkinson, Secretary. 



246 



HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 



1872 



SCHEDULE OF THE PROPRIETORS OF THE 
TOWN OF BARNSTEAD. 



Kev. Josepli Adams, 
John Downinii". Jr., 
James Pickerina'. 
John Walker, 
Riehard Downing. 
John Xutter. 
Thomas Pickering. 
Sanuiel Nutter. 
John Fabius, 
James Xutter. 
John Fabius, Jr.. 
Mathias Nutter. 
Joshua Pickering. 
John Knight. 
John Thompson, 
Benjamin Walton. 
Moses Drew, 
Harrison Downing. 
John Walliniil'ord. 
Ilenrv .Vllard, 
Seth Ping. 
Thomas Leighton, 
Joseph Rollins. 
Josiah Downing, 
Shadraeh Walton. 
Benning Wentw<jrth, 
Hunkiiig Went worth, 
Jon. Wentworth. Jr., 
David Wentworth, 
Benjamin Wentworth. 
James Jeil'rey. Jr., 
George Jeft'rey, Jr., 
Richard Wibird, Jr., 
Richard Waldrou, Jr., 
Ebenezer Weare. 
Jeremiali JMiller. 
Hatevil Nutter, 
Hatevil Nutter, Jr., 
Henry Nutter, 
John Trickey, 
Eleazer Coleman. 



Robert Anthmuty. 

John Dam. 

John Dam. Jr., 

Zebulon Dam. 

Richard Dam. 

Elnathan Dam. 

Jethro Bickford. 

Mark Ayers, 

Hatevil Nutter, 

John Zindge, 

Nathaniel Morrill. 

Thomas Ayers, son of Tom. 

John Brock, 

Joshua Downing. Jr.. 

Samuel Hunt, 

John Hunt, 

Thomas Gerrish, Jr., 

Samuel Shackford, 

John Shackford, 

William Fur))er, 

Samuel Fal)ius, 

Moses Furber, 

Benjamin Downing, 

John Decker. 

John Knight, Jr., 

Thomas Trickey, 

Cyprean JertVy, 

John Walton, 

Andrew Peters, 

Jethro Furl)er, 12 n. ton 

Thomas Bickford, 

Samuel Thompson, 

Clem. Messerve, 

Peter Weare, Jr., 

John Plaisted, 

James Davis, 

Jdhn Gillman, Esq., 

Andrew Wiggiu, 

Capt. John Downing. 

William Fellows, 

Capt. John Gillman, 



1S7 



PROPRIETORS. 



Joseph Downing, 
Lemuel Bickford, 
George Walton, 
Samuel Walton, 
Jonathan Downing. 
Joshua Downing, 
George Walton, Jr. 
John Hodgdon, 
Joseph Fabius, 
Francis Jenness, 
Sampson Sheaffe, 
Matt. Plants, 



Samuel Gerrish, 
Sanauel Tiljbetts. 
Ephraim Demerit. 
Theodore Atkinson, 
John Sanl)orn, 
Ebeiiezer Stevens. 
Eieliard James, 
James JettVy. 
Nathaniel Showers. 
Gill ;\Iaepheadis, 
Benjamin Clark. 
Ebenezer Wentworth. 



ADMITTED AS!?OCIATE> 



His Excellency and Honor, John Wentworth, Esq., 

Samuel Shute, Esq. 

Each of them 500 acres and a home lot. 



Col. Mark Hunking, 
George Jeffrey, 
Richard Wil)ird. 
Thomas Westbrook, 



Archibald Macpheadis, 
John Frost. 
Jotham (^tdiome. 

Each a Proprietor's Share." 



Entered and recorded from the original Schedule of the 
Proprietors of the Township of Barnstead, as the same was 
certified by Richard Waldron, Clerk of Council, this 28th 
March, 1801. 



Attest, 



Theodore Atkinson, Secretary. 



Secretary of Statk's Office, \ 
August 18, 1871. i 

A true copy of the record. 

Attest, J. E. Lang, 

Deputy Secretary of State. 



248 HISTORY OF BARN'STEAD. ' 1 ^^^ 

(B.) 
CHURCH CONTRACT, 

OF A FlIiST PROPRIETOR. 



'•'•Contract. — The Record that I took of the aorefinent 
that I made June the 20th, 1715, with the Committee that 
were chosen to agree with me about settling in the minis- 
try at Newington : Articles : 1 ; That my saUarey be 
ninety Pounds, but as they pleaded the Poverty of the 
people, and the great charges they had been at in building 
the meeting-house, I consented to accept 86 Pounds for 
seven years ; and withal I Promised on their request. 
That in case I lived a Bachelder and had not a family I 
would abate also the G Pounds and so accept of 80 Pounds 
for 7 years aforesaid. 2 : That I ^vas to have my Sallary 
agreed upon paid in money, and That at 2 payments, 
That is one half on the last of July as my Sallery began 
on the 1st of Feb. 1714-15, and the other half on the last 
of January and so yearly. 

" 3 : It was agreed that I should have the strangers" 
contribution. 

" 4 : That I should have the Parsonage Cleared fit for 
the Minister's use and Benefit, that is partlj^ cleared as is 
connnon in such cases ; and all fenced with a good and 
sufficient fence : and also to Remain for his use and Ben- 
efit Dure his natural life. 

" 5 : That they would give me GO pounds to help me in 
building my house : Together with a Tract of Land lying 
near Stoney Hill : viz, Behind one William Withain's 



1872 CHURCH CONTRACT. 249 

Lands : wch they Promised to give ine a Deed of. That 
is upon consideration of my settling and being ordained 
in the ministry at Ncwington. 

"In Testimony of wch agreement we all have signed 
our names as followetli — 

Joseph Adams, 

Pastor by agreement. 

John KniCxHT, John Knight, Jr. 

William Shackford, John Fabyan, 

John Bickford, John Doavning, 
John Nutter." 

We find the following account of Mr. Adams given by 
bis nep.hcw, John Adams (afterward President), in his 
auto-biography, published some years since by his grand- 
son, Hon. Charles Francis Adams. Under date of June 
30, 1770, the diary reads : 

"Arose not very early, and drank a pint of new milk 
and set off; oated my horse at Newbury, rode to Clark's 
at Greenland meeting-house, when I gave him hay and 
oats, and then set otf for Newington ; turned in at a gate 
by Col. Marches' and passed through two gates more 
before I came into the road that carried me to my uncle's. 

" I found the old gentleman in his eighty-second year, 
as hearty and alert as ever, his sous and daughters well, 
their children grown up, and everything strange to me. I 
find I had forgot the place ; it is seventeen years, I pre- 
sume, since I was there. My reception was friendly and 
ardent, and hospitable, as I could wish ; took a cheerful 
and agreeable dinner, and then set off for York over 



250 HISTOia OF BARNSTEAD. 1872 

Bloody Point Ferry, a way I never went before, and 
arrived at Woorlbridge's half an hour after sunset." 

Through the same distinguished aiedinm we get a 
slight view of him as a preacher and a citizen. In a 
letter to David Sewall, so late as 1821, President Adams 
says of him : 

" My father's eldest brother, Joseph Adams, (was) 
minister of that town. My uncle had been a great ad- 
mirer of Dr. Mather, and was said to affect an imitation 
of his voice, pronunciation, and manner in the pulpit. 
His sermons, though delivered in a powerful and musical 
voice, consisted of texts of scripture, quoting chapter and 
verse, delivered memoriter^ and without notes. In con- 
versation he was vain and loquacious, though somewhat 
learned and entertaining." 

Rev. Joseph Adams took an active and generous 
interest in public affairs. As early as 1758 he was one 
of the eight clergymen selected by the congregational 
convention to apply to Governor Wentworth for a charter 
for a college within the province of New Hampshire, 
which was granted in 1769, and was the leading spirit in 
the settlement of Barnstead. 



1872 TEST LIST OF THK REVOLUTION. 251 

(C.) 
TEST LIST. 



To the Selectmen of Barnstead, Colony of Neio Hamp- 
shire. 

In Cosimittee of Safety, 

April 12th, 1776. 
In order to carry the underwritten resolve of the Hon- 
orable Continental Congress into execution, you are 
requested to desire all males above twenty-one years of 
age (lunatics, idiots and negroes excepted) to the decla- 
ration on this paper ; and when so done, to make return 
liereof, together Avith the name or names of all who shall 
refuse to sign the same, to the General Assembly or Com- 
mittee of Safety of this Colony. 

M. Weare, Chairman, 

In Congress, March 14th, 1776. 

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several 
Assemblies, Conventions and Councils, or Committees of 
Safety, of the United Colonies, immediately to cause all 
persons to be disarmed within their respective colonies, 
who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, 
or who have not associated, and refuse to associate, to 
defend by arms the United Colonies against the hostile 
attempts of tlie British fleets and armies. 

Extract from minutes. 

(Copy.) Charles Thompson, Sec'ry. 

In consequence of the above resolution of the Con- 
tinental Congress, and to show our determiuation in 



252 



HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 



1872 



joining our American brethren in defending the lives, 
liberties and properties of the inhabitants of the United 
Colonies : 

We, the subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage and 
promise that we will, to the utmost of our power, at the 
risk of our lives and fortunes, with arms, oppose the hos- 
tile proceedings of the British fleets and armies against 
the United American Colonies. 



Samuel Pitman, 
Jonathaii Bunker, 
Thomas Snell, 
Depeudauce Colbath, 
Joliii Elliott, 
John Furber, 
John Nelson, 
Joseph Bimker, 
Joseph Sanborn, 
Benjamin Edgerly, 
John Mugate, 
John Sanborn, 

His 

Daniel x Jacobs, 

Mark. 

Daniel Bickford, 
John Tasker, 
John Sanborn, 

His 
Timothy x Davis, 

Mark. 
Hatevil Nutter, 
Jonathan Emerson, 

August 18, 1871. 
Attest : 



Benjamin Emerson, 
Richard Sinkler, 
Benja. Nutter, 
William Lord, 
Winthrop Smart, 
John Iluckens, 
Isaac Iluckens, 
Nathaniel Pease, 
John Bickford, 
Samuel Drew, 
John Mudget, 
Joseph Bryant, 
His 

Joseph X Mugate, 

Mark. 
Benjamin Brown, 
Edward Sanborn, 

His 
Samuel x Stephens, 
Jlark. 
His 

• X Bunker. 

Mark. 



A true copy of the original. 
J. E. Lang, Dep. Sec'y of State. 



Note. I do not find any return by the selectmen of 
the names of any disloyal men in Barnstead. j. e. l. 



TTI E 



FRIENDS AND PATRONS 



OF THIS WORK. 



BARNSTEAD. 



No .Vols. 



No.Yols 



Hannah Adams, 
George \V. Ayers, 
Charles Adams, 
John Adams, 
J. F. Aikius, 
David E. Avery, 
Joseph Ayers, 
Joshua W. Ayers, 

C. W. Blanchard, Esq., 
J. M. Babcock, Esq., 
Joseph P. Blaisdell, 
Jeremiah Bodge, 
Daniel Bickford, 
Gardner T. Bunker, 
C. A. Bunker, 
Henry D. Blake, 
A. Bickford, 

A. H.Boody, 
J. P. Bickford, 
Samuel (i. Berry, Hon. 
Dennis liablo, Esq., 
Jolni Blake, 

Ira L. Berry, 
Freeman Berry, 

\V. O. Carr, Rev., 
Moses J. Canney, 
George Colbath, 
Daniel Chesley, 
C. C. Chesley, 
John B. Chesley, 

B. F. Chesley, 
James H. Colbath, 
Samuel D. Caswell, 
William A. Chesley, 
Isaac H. Clark, 
Joel Clark, 
Enoch Clark, 



John H. Clough, 
Joseph AV. Clark, 
Horace N. Colbath, 
Solomon Clark, 
Reuben H. Clapp, 
Isaac Chesley, 
Charles L. Chesley, 
Judith Caswell, 

James R. C. Davis, 
Daniel F. Davis, 
David Drew, 
Cliarles H. Dow, 
John Dow, 
John H. Davis, 
Herbert C. Downs, 

G. W. Emerson, M. D., 
Timothy Emerson, 
R. P. Emerson, 
Iteuben Edgerly, 
Cliarles F. Emerson, 
George W. Emerson, Esq.. 
S. H. Emerson, 
Andrew J . Emerson, 
David H . Evans, 
Jacob \V. Evans, 
Eli H. Elliott, 
Moses Edgerly, 

Oscar Foss, 
Wm. I. Foss, 
Charles A. Foss, 
.Tames L. Foss, 
James A. Foye, 
Levi F. French, 

Asa Garland, 

John B. Garland, Esq., 



254 



HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 



1872 



No. Vols. 



Charle.s S. Grace, 
David Goodwin, 
Chas. S. George, Esq., 
Enos George, 

Joseph Hill, 
N. E. Huntress, 
D. B. Hanson, 
J. X. Hoitt, 
Hatch & Glidden, 
William J. Hall, 
John F. Holmes, Esq., 
Chas. A. Hodgdon, 
Samuel Hall, 
Eben Hanson. Esq., 
Nellie HaustMinie, 
Nathaniel Hanson, 
Mrs. Jlahala Holmes, 
li. F. Hauscom, 
(ieorge A. Hall, 
Jliriam Hodgdon, 
John B. Hussey, 
Wm. A. Hurd, 
Geo. L. Hall, 

J. H. Jenkins, 
Frank S. Jenkins, 
William A. Jenkins, Esq. 
John W. Jenkins, 
William Jenkins, 
Orran J. Jenkins, 
Ebenezer Jones, 
Lewis Jenkins. 
Calvin Jenkins, 
George W. Jenkins, 

James Kaime, 
Samuel Kaime, 
John O. Kenisou, 
Geo. F. Kentson, 
Geo. W. Keniston, 
Joseph F. Kaime, 

David E. Eougee. 

Horace W. Lord, 

W. N. Langley. 

John W. V. Locke, Esq., 

Phineas Locke, 

Thomas Moore, 
Daniel Moore, 
J. D. Marshall, 
W. Muusey, 

James Nutter, 
N. S. Nutter, Esq., 
S. D. Nutter, 
William Nutter, 
John L. Nutter, Esq., 
James Nutter, 
Wm. S. Nutter, Esq., 
Eleanor P. Nutter, 
Sarah J. M. Neal, 



No.Yols. 



A. P. Nutter, 
G. F. Nutter, 

Miranda E. I'arsons, 

.I.e. I'ickcring, 

T. U. I'ickering, 

1. M. Pickering. 

Jonathan Pickering. 

William H. Peiree, 

H. C. l^alnier. 

John Pendergast, 

Henry IMtman. 

Samuel G. Pendergast, Esq. 

Hiram T. Pitman, 

T. O. Pitman. 

Daniel I'arshley, 

'J\ Iv. I'roctor, Esq., 

Wm. I'roctor, 

.foseph D. Proctor. 

Christianna Pendergast, 

Jane Pendergast, 

Hiram Rand, 
Hannah Randett, 
.Lames M. Rowe, 
Charles Reynolds. 

L. C. Scruton. 
Thomas S. Straw, 
Noble Salkott. 
A. W. Shackford, 
Ansel C. Smart, 
Josiah R. Shackford, 
Seth Shackford, Esq., 
Frank Slceiier, 
Daniel Sargent, 
George W. Sargent, 
Charles H. Straw, 
Samuel G. Shackford, 
Albert F. Shackford. 
Fred A. J. Smart, Esq.. 

Daniel E. Tuttle. Esq., 
AVm. Tuttle. 
Samuel M. Tuttle. 
Orran W. Tibbetts, 

John AVheeler, M. D., 
J. M. Winkley, 
Joseph Walker, 
Caleb Willev, 
John W.Welch. 
Mark Walker. M. D., 
Augusta W. Walker, 
John Walker. 
Ambrose J. Wentworth, 
Samuel Winkley, Esq., 

Oliver H. P. Young, 
John M. Young, 
John IL Young, 
Acanthus Young, 
Samuel P. Young, 



18: 



FRIENDS AND PATRONS. 



255 



LOWELL, MASS. 



No. Vols. 



Nathan Allen, M. D.. 
Otis Allen, Esq., 
John G. Adams, Rev., 
A. L. Brooks, Esq., 
Col. Jeflerson Bancroft, 
John A. Buttrick, Hon., 
William Bunker, 
Ira Caverly, 
Daniel Caverly, 
John E. Dame, Rev.. 
Hanover Dickey, M. D., 
George JI. Elliott, Esq., 
William Fiske, 
Alansdii I'olsom, 
Cyrus M. Fiske. M. D., 
Isaac A. Fletcher, Esq., 
Stephen Fiflekl, 
D. P. Gage, M. D.. 
John W. Graves, Hon., 
John O. Green, M. D., 
Joseph R. Hayes, Dr., 
Rufus B. Hilliard, 
George Hertriek, 
Moses Howe, Esq., 
Andrew F. Jcwett, Esq.. 
Mrs. H. E. Jewett, 



No.Vols. 



Joseph A. Janvrin, Capt., 

E. O. Kingsley, Esq., 
G. Kimball, M. D., 
J. A. Knowles, Hon., 
Andrew Leighton, Esq., 
Dr. Jos. A. Masta, 

Dr. Geo. C. Osgood, 

F. C. Plunkett, M. D., 
Dr. John W. Pearson, 
S.N. Proctor, 
Samuel Rand, 

Rob't K. Runnels, 
Geo. S. Richardson, 
Chas. A, Savory, M, D., 
Joel Spaulding. M. D., 
Mrs. S. Spaulding, 
Mrs. C. Whitney, 
David Wells, 
H. Wright, 
Albert Wheeler, 
Samuel Horn, Esq., 
E. B. Patch, Hon., 
Dr. James C. Ayer, 
JIarden & Rowell, Pub., 
Samuel T. Manahau, 
Geo. W. Adams, 



I'lTTSFIELD, N. II. 



Wm. C. Adams, Esq., 
P. H. Adams, 
A. W. Adams, 
John Berry, 
Lewis Bunker, 
Owen Brock, 
S. H. Clark, 
Jeremiah Clark, 
Charles F. Collins, 
Charles French, 
R. L. French, 
Abraham French. 2d, 
C. S. French, 
O. F. Ham, 
Joseph Jenkins, 
Melvin J. Jenkins, 



o 


J. L. Marsh, 


1 




J. P. Nutter, 


2 




F. C. Nutter, 


1 




Daniel T. Neale, 


1 




H. H. Pierce, 


1 




AC. Pierce, 


1 




G. S. Ring, 


1 




G. H. Sanborn, 


1 




R. P. J. Tenney, Hon., 


5 




H. A. Tattle, 


2 




Thomas H. Thorndike, 


1 




F. \V. White, 


1 




Andrew J. Young, 


1 




Everett Jenkins, 


1 




A. C. Smith, 


1 



BOSTON, MASS. 



John F. Banchor, F^sq., 
Geo. S. Banchor, 
Boston Public Library, 
Col. Thos. E. Barker, 
Samuel G. Drake, Hon. 
Fred. F. French, Esq., 
D. B. Gove, Esq., 



Wm. Parsons Lunt, Esq., C 

Wm. E. Nutter, 1 

Samuel P. Riddler, Esq., i 

Mrs. L. M. Standish, 2 

Mrs. B. T. Savage, 1 

Miss E. F. Wallace, 1 

James L. Woodhouse, 1 



256 



HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD. 



1872 



CONCORD, N. H. 



No.Vols. 



Andrew Bunker, Esq., 
Mrs. Wm. A. Chesley, 
Charles Dennett, 
Geo. S. Dennett, 
Joseph French, Esq., 
Mrs. J. P. Hill, 
Howard F. Hill, Esq., 
E. S. Nutter, Esq., 
G. L. Nutter, Esq., 



No.Vols. 



C. D. Newell, 
I. L. Pickering, 
Mrs. N. P. Rines, 
]Mrs. Stary H. .Smart, 
Mrs. L. A. Smith, 
L. D. Stevens, Esq., 
Wm. Shackford, 
Mrs. R. S. Webster, 
Geo. E. Pendergast, 



MANCHESTKR, N. H. 



Lewis W. Clark, Att. Gen., 
M. V. B. Edgerly, Esq., 
John C. French, Esq., 
Seth T. Hill, Esq., 
H.D. Lord, 



5 


C. H. Marshall, for City Library, 


1 


5 


J. P. Newell, Esq., 


5 


1 


C. W. Stanley, 


1 


1 
1 


J. K. Stevens, Esq., 


1 



OTHER FLACKS. 



J. AV. Pickering, Charlestovvn, Ms. 
John Connell, Gilmauton, N. H., 
Jeremiali Blake, M. D. " 
Charles A, Hatch, " 

Isaac G. Piper, 
Thos. Coggswell, Esq., '• 
Mrs. John Kent, Portsmouth, N.H. 
John A. George, Esq., 
Daniel Marcy, Hon., " 

Lafayette Newall, " 

E. P. S. Sherburne, Esq., " 
¥. C. Drew, Esq., Lawrence, Ms., 
G. AV. Garland, M. D., " 
Ebenezer Nutter, Lynn. Mass., 
A. F. L. Norris, Es<},, '• 
John Huckins, Strafford, N. H., 
.lohn C. Peavey, Esq., " 
Mrs. Joseph Caverly, " 
Mrs. R. B. Peavey, "■ 

Wm. Hale, Esq., Barrington, N.H. 
Daniel Caverly, Esq., 
Mrs. Nancy Cox, Holderness, N.H. 
J. Pi Bunker, Karson, Minn., 
H. C. Canney, Auburn, N. Hi, 
N. B. Edwards. M. D., Chelms- 
ford. JIass., 
Public Library, Exeter, N. H.. 
A.( '.Newall, jr. D.,Farmington, Me., 
Frank Emerson, Esq., 
Charles H. Pitman, '' 

Eben James, Esq.,Tyngsboro', Ms., 
John P. Dennett, Gloucester, Ms., 
Herbert E. Dennett, " 



Natt Head. Esq.. Hook.sett, N. H., 1 
Lyman Hodgdon. Dover, N. H., 
George G. Lowell, 
Jackson Newall, 
Geo. P. Demerett, 
•Tohn F. Hayes, 
Dr. C. M. Murphy, 
.1. H. Pickering, Salem, Mass.. 
John Pierce, Esq., Portland, 3Ie.. 
W. F. Home, Rochester, N. H., 
Mrs. Ellen Lougee, •' 
J. P. Rand, M. D., Hartford, Vt,, 
Spoflbrd D. Jewett, Rev., Middle- 
field, Conn., 2 
David F. Kaime, St. Louis. Mo.. 1 
.Tames Kaime. Canterbury, N. H., 1 
George Montgomery, Newbury- 

port, Ms., 1 

J. D. Nicliols, M. D., Tewksbury, 

Mass., 1 

A.H.Quint.Rev..New Bedford, Ms., 1 
Charles Ridler, Maplewood, Ms., 1 
.John G. Sinclair, Hon., Littleton, 

N.H., 6 

Mary G. Sanborn, South New Mar- 
ket, N. H., 
Albert G. Thompson, N. Y. City, 
Dr. P. H. Wheeler, Alton, N. H., 
Oliver Waldron, Madbury, N. H., 
Joseph C. Russell, Laconia, N. H., 
Geo. W. Woodliouse, " 

Mrs. Mary J. Clogston, " 




"^rk, J 



(^ai'~e L 



OBLIVION. 



[a search FOli THE RECORD.] 



O, thou unfettered, unforbidden foe 

To man's proud purpose, history or fame ! 

Thou art a bane to all who live below, 

Fearful forslumberings, that never wake again. 

2 

In stealth for aye ye creep creation o'er 
With a midnight cloud to cover all below it, 

Where generations stood that lived of j'ore 
In story brave — man never more shall know it. 

3 

High in the hills I stand beneath the gloom. 
That bilges pendent o'er a bleaky brow. 

To cast a flower on many a crumbling toml). 
For hearts heroic half forgotten now. 

4 

Give me thine aid, ye Gods of earlj' date, 
Or native nymph, or spirit from above! 

Snatch from the fangs of unrelenting Fate 
The fading memories of paternal love I 

5 

Half halting there, beseeching and bes.iught, 
With harp unstrung in tuneless silence laid. 

A gallant lady to my vision In-ought 
The grave-yard gates of Barnstead's honored dead. 

33 



258 APPENDIX. l'^^- 

6 

" Sing now," said she, " tlie deeds of other days. 
Wake once again thy tired strings anew ; 

Our fathers old, tlieir rude and rustic ways, 
Tlieir frugal, faithful pilgrimage review." 

7 

Then straightaway, while dawn in lovely light, 
Uoth come to gild the pui'ple hills with gold ; 

While mild October from the forest bright 
Displays proud colorings beauteous to liehold, 

8 

She turns, meanders, where departing night 
ll.ath spread the vales in pathless peai'ly dews ; 

And where old Time had cast his baleful Ijlight 
In da3's of yore, — sweet garlands there she strews. 

9 

Down thence afar, in all the varied fields, 

In valley low, in upland fresh and fair. 
Wild, at her feet the nodding floweret yields 

Obeisance grateful to her presence there ; 

iO 

Where long ago, advancing sad and slowly, 
Trocessious came, dark, winding ou the way. 

From plaintive prayer, and exhortations holy, 
They bore their kindred tenderly away. 

M* 

Deep there she dwells, where now the sainted dead, 
'Neath mossy mound, or sod with briers set. 

In pent-up lanes, or careful corners laid, 
Long, tardy years in loneliness have slept. 

12 

To trace rude records, latent, there beclouded, 

A line of love, a stanza quaint, sublime. 
Or some old text, which nature hath beclouded, 

Beneath the tears of overwhelming Time. 

*See page 2.33. 



!■'<''- WE SEEK THE SAINTS. 2.')i) 



Full forty days her faithful lingers gather 
From granite gray or sable slab of old, 

In uncouth rhymes, yet sentimental i-ather, 
The last sad tale which fond attection told; 

'4 

Told from the soul when fettered in affliction, 
Beneath a cloud high from the heavens hung ; 

Nor prayer, nor faith, nor bounteous beuedictiou 
Assuaged the grief that clustered where it clung. 

15 
Here many a neighbor, curious at the call, 

Holding a helping hand, came, gathered near, 
And priest and people, draped in homespun, all 

Brought regal honors to a rugged bier. 

iG 

Here stood a father, deep in sorrow, mild, 

A mother bending o'er her manly boy, 
A lonely daughter led a little child, 

And left a tear to a true departed joy. 

17 
Here stood the soldier, strong in revolution, 

Whose heart, it failed not, firm in battle, brave 
For freedom fair, forj&od and constitution. 

Valiant for aye, — it faltered at the grave. 

18 
O, God, that gives us sympathetic tears. 

That fosters love in the kingdoms all around. 
Why should the page of patriotic years 

Be lost, forgotten, never to be found? — 

19 
Why, like the works of distant boundless ages, 

While rambling red-men wandered through the wold. 
Whose only record lingers on the pages, 

Left brief from hearsay, of the English old, 



2G0 APPENDIX. 



1872 



Should that be lost ! forgotten, shall they vanish. 

Prhiieval deeds of brave New England days ? 
O give me pinde.'a cultivation clanish, 

A filial faith, to pen heroic praise ! 

21 

Shame on the cur, unworthy of a collar, 
Lured of a lie, holds never his master's place ! 

Yet not unlike him, he that hugs the dollar. 
Nor spares a dime for the annals of his race. 

22 

Then let the luckless day that l)ore^iim perish! 

Let the night that bred him deep in darkness lie ! 
For him no charm shall Nature deign to cherish, 

No balm of earth, nor bliss from God on high ! 

23 
Where shall he rest, who knows no tliought paternal, 

Nor has a heed for anything Init self ? 
With aspirations fruitless, frail, infernal; 

Favored of heaven, yet pants for paltry pelf! 

24 
Make him a grave in some old boggy meadow, 

In a desert drear, beyond the hooting owl, 
Where the summer cloud shalLnever show a shndow, 

Unseen of the l)ird, abhorred of beasts that prowl— 

25 
And bury him low ; let solitude attend him — 

No star for the night, no genial dawn of day, 
Nor sight nor sound let Nature deign to lend him. 

Save from the jackal digging for his prey ! 

26 
Kindness " to him who shows it " is but just; 

Earth's charities are favored of the skies ; 
Her sinful self must sink to sordid dust ; 

Her rich rewards are waiting for the wise. 



I'^Ta THEY COME IN A CLOUD. 261 

Give me the man that has a soul within hun, 
A heart for heaven, a hand for a noble deed ; 

That lives to learn, and learns to carry in him 
God's golden rule, the emblem of his creed ! 

28 
Return me hence, from unreserved digression. 

To the vale below, where, faithful to a vow, 
That lady wandering strives to give expression 

To unique phrase, time-worn, half hidden now. 

29 
The grave-gato turns its hopeful hinges fair, 

As if to help a welcome heart within; 
The dead are heedful — angels have a care 

To such a mission, true they '• work to win." 

30* 
For, now while twilight l)nrns the western sky, 

Down from a cloud that hovers o'er the tomb. 
Sprite voices come — I seem to see them nigh — 

And one '• Lone Star " to dissipate the gloom. 

3' • 

Am I asleep, and am I ilreamiug now? 

Is there no God to move the spheres above? 
No angel voice to breathe a tender vow, 

No sainted soul to teli us of his love ? 

32t 

Indeed, 1 see them in the sabled cloud, 
The manhood meek of earthy olden time, 

Of Mary, there, they whisper long and loud. 
From heaven all, and equally divine. 

Sure he is there, whose Ijanner l^right unfurled, 
Bore on its folds that beauteous beaming ''Star;" 

Who preached salvation to a dying world. 
And left it better than he found it, far. 

*Uev. 1:7. tPage 5. JPage 00. 



262 APPENDIX. IS72 

34* 

I see the soul that followed many a day, 

The miry beasts that dragged the plow along, 

The frugal heart in all its rustic way 
That cheered these vales with piety and song. 

35 

Note there, the youths so brief in earth's career, 
Who brought rich harvests to the help of age, 

Whose noble natures l)rave, fraternal, dear, 
Bequeathed to the Avorld a pure historic page. 

36t 

Note thei'e, the sprite of fated Indian life, 

Whose arrow clings to the farthest distant cloud. 

Whose vengeance flashes in the heavens rife, 
Beyond the mountains nuirnuiring yet aloud. 

37j 

Note there, the pilgrim, first of all that came, 
W^ho led the white-man, trained him for the skies. 

In all this earthly round, who fanned the flame 
That fired a nation's faith, and made it wise. 

38§ 

Note there, a daughter, sainted, favored, free. 
Held once beloved, angelic always found. 

Who sought the shades of yonder towering tree. 
There to recline the eternal j^ears around. 

39 

High on these hills, she'd wandered in her childhood. 
Briefly to dance sweet summer days along. 

And oft in tlowery A'ale, or waving wild-wood. 
Inspired the ))Iue-bird with her little song. 

40 
There, long ago, beneath green branches youthful, 

They thither laid her, true, more tender never. 
Still, still that old birch tree is heavenward, truthful. 

Bearing brave honors to that loved one, ever, 

*Page 74 to 98. tPage21. J Page 10. § Page 99. 



1872 THEY VISIT Maggie's tree. 263 

41 
Kind spirits flit witliiu its a.j^ed l)ouglis ; 

Bright night hatli come to lave its leaves with tears ; 
Soft zephyrs sigh their wonted tender vows 

To "Maggie," faithful, slumbering fifty years. 

Ten thousand days' briglit dawn lias lit upon it. 
Ten thousand nights' sweet stars soft glittering there, 

Ten thousand wild birds, lovely, warbling on it, 
Have b)'ought oblations to my Maggie fair. 

43 
Earth's tardy years are nothing in His sight. 

Who rolls the spheres in majesty above; 
Whose sun. on high, is but a candle light 

To lead frail mortals to a throne of love. 

44 
Vet have these years worketl wonders in tlieir way, 

Bright links they've formed in the eternity of time; 
They've laid the Pilgrim old, earth-loved away. 

They've given to God the patriot pure, divine. 

45 
Brave heaven-taught hosts, our fathers, mothers, all I 

I hail their presence in the purpled air! 
Deep in the vale approvingly they call 

Kind connuendation. true, to Mary there. 

46 
Calmly they scan her late benighted wanderings. 

Her faith in God, her truth in every duty. 
Her care for kindred, her penciliugs and ponderings. 

Earth's fovored form, and life's transcendent beauty. 

47 
While turning now tlie fmislied field away. 

Ten times they thank her in that mission free ; 
Ten times they chant a soft angelic lay. 

Sweet, like the zephyrs in that ancient tree. 



264 APPENDIX. 1872 



Ah ! What a change ! Fair tlawu hath lost her light ; 

The murky shades have mantled Earth and Main ! 
Yet soon afar the gentle Queen of Niglit, 

High on the mountains, lights them up again. 

49 

Oh, what a world of glor.y sliines al)Ove us ! 

Wliat boundless realms, what beauty beams below! 
What constant faith, and care from llim who loves us I 

And all for what? Frail nature ne'er can know ! 

50* 
Ye stately heights, that stand against tlie sky ; 

Ye ocean waves, that dash a boundless shore ; 
From Beauty-hill I scan ye now on high. 

Eternal there, majestic as of yore ! 

5' 

Thine were the tribes of vast uncounted years, 
The wigwam wild indeed was thine alone ; 

Thine was the pride of pilgrim pioneers, 
The white-man's hamlet and the halcyon home ! 

52 
Hail ! happy hills, and valleys lovely green. 

Fair flocks in pastures which the fathers trod ; 
Old Suncook rolls, sweet flowery flelds between. 

Her mountain peaks are pointing up to God ! 

53 
Awake, ye sons and favored daughters true! 

To faith and works there is a treasured crown — 
A glorious morn is breaking bright for you. 

While at your door I lay your annals down. 

54 
Farewell! my long-loved, native hills, for aye! 
Your own bright waters never more I'll see ! 
I'll l)ear your beauty in my soul away. 
Where Jewett slumbers, waiting but for me ! 
*Page 122. 

R. i$. V. 

Barnstead, August 31, 1872. 



K. 



907" 



